Brazilian Ministry of Health declares the end of the Public Health Emergency of National Importance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic

Last Friday (April 22, 2022), Ministry of Health published Ordinance No. 913/2022, through which Minister of Health Marcelo Queiroga declared the end of the Public Health Emergency of National Importance (“ESPIN”) arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Such Ordinance will enter into force 30days after its publication, which means that its provisions will be valid from May 22, 2022. 

From a labor perspective , the end of the ESPIN brings with it several effects and consequences for the relationship between companies and employees. A few specific highlights include (i) impacts on the provision of services by pregnant employees; (ii) the end of mandatory use of masks in the workplace; (iii) expiration of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security Ordinance No. 20/2020, which established several obligations to be followed by employers concerning sanitary measures and  contamination risk management regarding the coronavirus in the workplace; and (iv) the expiration of Law No. 14,297/2022, which established safety measures applicable during the ESPIN to delivery workers who render services through delivery apps.

Demarest’s Labor and Employment team is available to provide any further clarifications on the effects of Ordinance No. 913/2022 and to provide advice in case of queries and measures to be taken regarding labor aspects of this matter.