In a noteworthy development within Brazil's legal landscape, the number of new cases filed in the Labor Court has surged by 8.47% between 2024 and 2025, reaching a record high following the labor reforms instituted in 2017. According to statistics from the Superior Labor Court (TST), the judiciary received 2.321 million new cases in the first instance in 2025, compared to 2.134 million in the previous year. This increase highlights a significant shift in the labor disputes landscape in Brazil, reflecting the ongoing ramifications of the 2017 reforms.

Despite this increase, the overall number of new cases remains 12.35% lower than the figures registered in 2017 when the labor reforms were first enacted, which saw 2.648 million new cases. Furthermore, the current figures are 15.78% less than those recorded in 2016, the year prior to the reforms, which had a total of 2.756 million new cases. Legal experts attribute this trend to the increased flexibility in the new labor regulations, following rulings from Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the TST itself that have redefined certain aspects of the labor laws.

A critical factor contributing to the rise in new actions is the reinstatement of free legal assistance in labor courts, which had been restricted under the 2017 reforms. The Supreme Court's decision in 2021, which stated that workers entitled to free assistance must not bear the costs if they lose their case, has likely encouraged more individuals to bring their disputes to court, knowing that they can do so without financial repercussions. As Brazil navigates the complex aftermath of labor reform, these statistics provide critical insights into the evolving nature of labor relations in the country.