In order to access the formal labor market, an immigrant must:
- Be able to prove he or she is a legal immigrant.
- Have authorization from the “Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego” (Ministry of Labor and Employment) and a work contract.

With or without a work contract, immigrants have basic rights that should be respected.
- No one may force a person to work without being paid for it;
- Any type of harassment, exposure to humiliating or embarrassing situations, sexual innuendo or use of force in the workplace is prohibited. Any misconduct should be reported to the nearest “Delegacia Regional do Trabalho” (Regional Labor Office);
- Women and men are entitled to maternity/paternity leave for pregnancy or adoption. Women are entitled to four months of maternity leave;
- A woman may not be dismissed on the ground that she is pregnant;
- Nobody shall be forced to work beyond daily normal working hours. The number of working hours in Brazil may be up to 8 hours per day and up to 44 hours per week, although there are some exceptions for certain professions. If such an exception applies to you, you should check that your rights are being respected. Overtime should not exceed two hours per day, and should be paid at a rate of least an extra 50% of the hourly wage. At the employer's discretion, any hours worked overtime one day may be offset by working a correspondingly shorter number of hours another day, in which case no overtime work is payable;
- At the end of a working day, everyone in the regular labor market is entitled to 11 consecutive hours of rest until the next working day.

If your rights are not being respected, you can report the matter to the “Superintendência Regional do Trabalho e Emprego” (Regional Superintendent of Labor and Employment - SRTE), the “Gerência Regional do Trabalho e Emprego” (Regional Labor and Employment Management Office - GRTE) or the “Ministério Público do Trabalho” (Labor Prosecutor’s Office). In these cases, you can request to remain anonymous. You can also seek free legal advice from your trade union.

Brasília
To search for job opportunities, you must register with the “Agência do Trabalhador” (Labor Agency). For a complete list of addresses, visit the following website: http://www.trabalho.df.gov.br .

Manaus
SINE MANAUS offers free services with the aim of improving conditions concerning employment, tenure or reintegration of workers into the job market. In the capital, SINE-MANAUS helps in the following areas: Workers Register; Advice for Workers; Labor Intermediation; People with Disabilities; Professional Qualification; Telecommunications; Formal Unemployment Insurance; Unemployment Insurance for small-scale fishermen; and issuing the CTPS (work permit)
Address:
Av. Floriano Peixoto, Nº 134, Centro - Mapa, Cep: 69005-070
Telephone: (92)3215-4700
Rio de Janeiro
To search for job opportunities, you can go to one of the SINE (“Sistema Nacional de Emprego,” - National Employment System) or CEAT (“Centro de Atendimento ao Trabalhador,” or Center for Workers’ Services) units located throughout the city. For a complete list of SINE unit addresses in the State of Rio de Janeiro, visit the following website: http://portal.mte.gov.br . Other useful addresses:

Soac/Rj
Rua Chaves Faria, 260 – Sao Cristovao
Telephone: 3031-3636

Ceat/Rj - Unidade Penha
Largo da Penha, 19 – Penha
Telephone: 3048-2377

Ceat Centro/Rj
Av Republica do Chile, 245 – Centro
Telephone: 3246-2483

Ceat/Rj - Santa Cruz
Praca Dom Romualdo, 11 – Santa Cruz
Telephone: 3157-2860

“Secretaria Municipal de Trabalho e Emprego – SMTE” (Municipal Labor and Employment Department)

“Centros Públicos de Emprego, Trabalho e Renda” (Public Centers for Employment, Work and Income)
Tijuca: Rua Camaragibe, 25
Jacarepaguá: Estrada do Guerenguê, 1.630
Campo Grande: Rua Barcelos Domingos, 162
Ilha do Governador: Estrada do Dendê, 2.080
Méier: Rua Vinte e Quatro de Maio, 931
Centro: Av. Presidente Vargas, 1997 (Only for people with disabilities)
Região Portuária: Rua da América, 81, Santo Cristo

(Cáritas of Rio de Janeiro also keeps a databank of profiles and partnerships with firms located primarily in Rio de Janeiro).

São Paulo
To search for job opportunities, you can visit the “Unidades do Centro de Atendimento ao Trabalhador (CAT)” (Workers’ Service Center Units) or the “Posto de Atendimento ao Trabalhador (PAT)” (Workers’ Service Post) located in various parts of the city. The purpose of these offices is to find alternative means of inserting workers into the job market, and to provide information and advice on job hunting. For a complete list of addresses for the “Centro de Atendimento ao Trabalhador” in the São Paulo municipal area, visit the following website: http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br .

For a complete list of addresses for "Postos de Atendimento ao Trabalhador" in the State of São Paulo, visit the following website: Google List .

“Bolsa Família” is a direct income transfer program for poor and extremely poor families throughout the country. “Bolsa Família” includes the “Plano Brasil Sem Miséria” (Brazil Without Poverty Plan), which focuses on the millions of Brazilians with a monthly per capita family income below R$ 77 and is based on guaranteed minimum income, inclusion in the job market and access to public services (information taken from the MDS website). All asylum seekers and refugees have the right to access this social program. All that is required is to visit a “Centro de Referência de Assistência Social” (Reference Center for Social Assistance - CRAS) in order to receive advice and to be able to register.

Social Security is an insurance scheme that guarantees income for the contributing person and her/his family in cases of illness, accident, pregnancy, imprisonment, death or old age. It offers various benefits that, altogether, ensure the economic security of an individual. To receive the benefit, it is necessary to sign up and to make monthly contributions.

The minimum age for working in Brazil is 16 years. However, between 16 and 18 years old, a person may only be taken on as an apprentice to work 4 to 6 hours per day. Child labor is a crime which can be reported by calling the toll free number of S.O.S. Trabalho Infantil (S.O.S Minor Labor) on 0800 111616.

Employing illegal immigrants is an administrative offence punishable by a fine on the employer and a notice to the employee to leave the country within the prescribed time limit or be deported.