Employer obligations during national breast cancer awareness month

At a glance

• October is 'Pink October' (Outubro Rosa); an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness of breast and cervical cancer prevention and early detection.
• Under Law No. 15,377/2026, Brazilian employers are required to inform employees about cancer prevention, HPV and official vaccination campaigns.
• Employers must also inform employees of their right to paid time off for preventive cancer screening examinations.
• 'Pink October' provides an opportunity for employers to reinforce their workplace health awareness initiatives and comply with these statutory obligations.

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As Brazil observes 'Pink October', an annual breast cancer awareness campaign, employers should take the opportunity to review their obligations under Law No. 15,377/2026, enacted on April 2, 2026.

The law introduced Article 169-A to the CLT, requiring employers to provide employees with information on the prevention of breast, cervical and prostate cancers, as well as HPV, following Ministry of Health guidelines.

As previously reported, employers must also inform employees about official vaccination campaigns and guide them on how to access relevant diagnostic services. In addition, employers are required to notify employees of their statutory entitlement to up to three days’ paid leave within a 12-month period to undergo preventive medical examinations, as set forth in Article 473, XII of the CLT. Employers must also promote awareness initiatives regarding the theme.

Although these obligations apply year-round, campaigns such as 'Pink October' offer a practical framework for employers to integrate health awareness into their existing workplace communications. In the event of non-compliance, if a labor inspection is carried out, administrative fines may be imposed.