MP 927, created on 03/22/2020, brought a series of labor measures that can be used by companies during the confrontation of the crisis resulting from coronavirus.

These measures may be applied for as long as the so-called “state of public calamity” is in force in the country, which is expected to last until 12/31/2020. The deadline may be extended or anticipated depending on the evolution of the crisis. See below what was set:

Telework

Telework, remote work or home office, may be implemented by the company at any time and regardless of the existence of individual or collective prior agreements, upon notice to employees 48 hours in advance. The MP 927/2020 makes it clear that in this modality the presence records will be waived, and the provisions of item III of the caput of Article 62 of the CLT are applicable.

Individual Vacation Anticipation

With a prior notice to the employee at least 48 hours in advance, in writing or by electronic means, with the indication of the period to be enjoyed by the employee;

It cannot be less than five calendar days;

They may be granted by an act of the employer, even if the obtainment period has not elapsed;

Employees and employers may negotiate the anticipation of future vacation periods, upon individual written agreement;

The employer may choose to pay the additional one-third of the vacation after its granting, until the date when the Christmas bonus is payable, as provided for in article 1 of Law 4.749/1965;

The possible request by the employee to convert one third of vacation into a cash allowance shall be subject to the agreement of the employer, until the date when the Christmas bonus provided for in Article 1 of Law 4.749/1965 is payable;

The vacation payment may be made until the 5th working day following the start of the vacation;

In the circumstance of the employee dismissal, the employer must pay, with the termination settlement, the amounts not yet paid related to the vacation;

Employers should prioritize the vacations anticipation for workers who belong to the coronavirus risk group;

During the public calamity, the employer may suspend the vacation or unpaid leaves of health professionals or those performing essential functions, by a written or electronic notification, preferably 48 hours in advance.

Collective holidays

During the state of public calamity, employers may anticipate the enjoyment of federal, state, district and municipal non-religious holidays and must notify, in writing or through electronic means, the set of benefited employees at least 48 hours in advance, upon express indication of the holidays used;

The days related to holidays can be used to offset the balance in comp time;

The use of religious holidays will depend on the agreement of the employee, through manifestation in individual written agreement.

Use and anticipation of holidays

During the state of public calamity, employers may anticipate the enjoyment of federal, state, district and municipal non-religious holidays and must notify, in writing or through electronic means, the set of benefited employees at least 48 hours in advance, upon express indication of the holidays used;

The days related to holidays can be used to offset the balance in comp time;

The use of religious holidays will depend on the agreement of the employee, through manifestation in individual written agreement.

Comp time

Companies will be able to stop activities and include unworked hours to a special comp time for compensation within 18 months, counted from the starting date of the state of public calamity, which will now be June 2022. This comp time may be established in a collective or individual agreement, signed in writing directly with each worker.

Suspension of administrative requirements in safety and health at work

During the state of public calamity, the obligation to perform occupational, clinical and complementary medical examinations is suspended, except for the dismissal examinations.

The examinations that are postponed must be conducted within 60 days, counting from the closing date of the state of public calamity.

The dismissal examination may be waived if the most recent occupational medical examination has been conducted less than 180 days before;

During the state of public calamity, the obligation to conduct periodic and occasional training of employees, as provided for in regulatory standards of safety and health at work, is suspended;

All training will be held within 90 days after the public calamity ends;

All training can be conducted in the distance learning mode and it will be up to the employer to observe the practical contents, in order to ensure that the activities are carried out safely.

The worker referral for qualification

All training provided for in regulatory standards of health and safety at work are suspended, and should be resumed and conducted within 90 days, counted from the closing date of the state of public calamity, which until now be 02/31/2021; distance learning modality, however, can be used.

Payment of the Employee’s Severance Guarantee Fund- FGTS.

Employers will not need to pay the FGTS for the months of March, April and May 2020. These payments may be made later, in installments, free of charge, in up to six monthly installments, from July 2020.