The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) sent a notification through the Digital Labor Book to inform workers about the possibility of reporting threats of dismissal and political discrimination. This warning was issued on Thursday (the 29th) following the spread of social media posts encouraging employers to persecute or fire employees because of their voting preferences.
The message directs users to the ministry's official complaint submission channel. This initiative comes amid a rise in reported cases of electoral persecution at the Labor Prosecutor's Office (MPT), the number of which has already exceeded the total recorded during the 2022 elections.
The notification, sent via a push notification, appears on the screens of phones, tablets, and computers even if the application is not open. It asks whether the worker has been subjected to threats of dismissal or political discrimination and offers a link to document the incident.
After the election results were announced, social media posts began calling for the firing of people who voted for Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), as well as refusing to hire workers identified as supporters of Petismo. Some such statements came from public figures.
One such case involved state deputy Índia Armelaú (PL) from Rio de Janeiro. The labor court prohibited her from encouraging employers to discriminate against, dismiss, or persecute employees based on their political beliefs. She had previously posted a message suggesting that entrepreneurs should check employees' social media for the letter 'L' and question the presence of people who, according to her, oppose the interests of entrepreneurs. She later issued an apology.
The MPT registered 3,396 reports of electoral persecution by 10 am on Thursday (the 29th), which is more than the 3,373 received throughout the entire 2022 election year. Most registrations in 2026 were concentrated in October, which gathered about 2.6 thousand complaints, approximately 371% more than in September, when 552 were recorded. Before the first round, the body received 991 complaints. Between the first and second rounds, there were 946. After the second vote, the total reached 1,459 registrations by 10 am on Thursday.
According to Igor Sousa Gonçalves, the labor prosecutor, in an interview with UOL, the volume of such cases is unprecedented, with reports being particularly linked to social media publications. The MPT supports a working group and focal points in regional prosecutor's offices to monitor incidents across the country.
On Wednesday (the 28th), Minister of Labor and Employment Luís Marinho announced the creation of a national task force to monitor complaints. The MPT is also taking legal action to protect workers' political freedom. Individuals who disseminate content encouraging professional harassment may be subject to legal measures, even if they are not employers.
Electoral persecution can include threats of dismissal, pressure to vote for a specific candidate, political discrimination, or professional damage motivated by choice. Reports can concern personal meetings, private messages, WhatsApp groups, or public social media posts.
Complaints can be filed through various channels: messages, emails, audio, video, and screenshots can help document the cases. The applicant can request confidentiality of personal data. Workers dismissed due to political discrimination can seek reinstatement or compensation in accordance with Law No. 9.029/1995, which prohibits discriminatory practices in accessing or maintaining employment relationships.