New Labor Rules on Cancer and HPV

In brief

On April 6, Brazilian Government officially released the Law No. 15,377/2026, which strengthens the role of companies in promoting preventive health in the workplace, aligning them with public health policies. The law expands employers’ duties to inform and raise employee awareness about official vaccination campaigns, HPV, and breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, as well as about access to diagnostic services.

In addition, it expressly requires employers to inform employees of their right to paid leave to undergo preventive medical examinations, broadening the scope of the legally justified absences already provided for under the Brazilian Labor Code (CLT).

Recommended actions

In light of the new rules, companies should adopt clear and structured communications on preventive health, aligned with the Ministry of Health guidelines, and may rely on the support of medical service providers or internal structures such as the Internal Commission for Accident and Harassment Prevention (CIPAA) and the Specialized Service in Occupational Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine (SESMT).

In addition, it is essential to reinforce employees’ right to paid leave for preventive examinations, including HPV exams, and to ensure that internal systems, especially payroll, are prepared to properly record these absences upon appropriate documentation.