Medical Exams: The HR Step Foreign Employers Often Miss

Hiring employees in Brazil comes with a requirement that many foreign employers overlook: labor medical exams. These aren’t optional routine checkups. Under the CLT regime, they’re mandatory.

It all starts with the entrance exam. Before a new hire can begin, a doctor must confirm that the person is both physically and mentally fit for the job. Without it, the contract can’t move forward.

Once on board, employees have to undergo periodic exams. The frequency depends on the occupational risks and the worker’s health condition. For example, office staff may only need a test every couple of years, while factory workers, construction crews, and others exposed to higher risks must take exams more often.

Other exams are triggered by specific events. A return-to-work exam is required if an employee has been away for 30 days or more due to illness or accident. A change-of-function exam is needed before an employee takes on a new role with different risks.

There’s also the dismissal exam. This exam must be carried out within 10 days of employment termination, but may be waived if the last labor test was performed within the previous 90 or 135 days, depending on the employer’s risk category.

The company must cover all costs associated with these labor exams, and failure to comply can subject the employer to fines, lawsuits, or both.

Medical exams are part of doing business in Brazil, so don’t forget to build them into your hiring and HR processes from the start. More than a legal requirement, they’re smart risk management.