Being a female entrepreneur in Brazil is a challenge. Our entrepreneurs start their businesses, create jobs, lead teams, raise children, take care of the household, facing a double or triple workload, almost always very exhausting, which ends up compromising emotional balance and mental health.
Many businesswomen began looking at this situation a few years ago when their employees started experiencing depression, being placed on leave due to burnout or anxiety crises. To bring a broader and more human perspective to health, in 2020, the Ministry of Labor amended NR-1, which, starting from its implementation on May 25, 2026, will include psychosocial risks such as stress, harassment, emotional overload, and burnout in the list of legal obligations for companies.
The new regulation requires employers to consider the emotional and mental well-being of workers by promoting a healthier, more balanced, and conscious work culture, where caring for mental health is as important as ensuring physical integrity. This applies to entrepreneurs of all sizes—those who own stores, beauty salons, restaurants, companies, or any other type of business.
NR-1 will require all companies—including small ones—to map workplace risks, such as accidents or hazardous products, as well as emotional risks like stress, constant pressure, excessive responsibilities, moral harassment, and mental exhaustion, to reduce cases of depression, anxiety, suicide, and burnout in the workplace.
In addition to ensuring employee well-being, the research ‘Female Entrepreneurs and Their Businesses 2023,’ conducted by the Instituto Rede Mulher Empreendedora (IRME), sheds light on women entrepreneurs. It points out that more than half of Brazilian female entrepreneurs also face anxiety crises, and one-third show symptoms of depression or other mental health issues.
To contribute to the well-being of female entrepreneurs, they can rely on CMEC – the Council of Female Entrepreneurs and Culture – an entity of CACB, FACESP, and ACSP—which has over 900 councils distributed across the country, where they can train, receive support, and share their experiences with other women facing the same challenges, helping them feel valued and welcomed so they can build a lighter and healthier way of entrepreneurship.
Regarding the changes that will be implemented with the new NR-1, it is essential that entrepreneurs and their teams are informed about the law, which is available on the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) webpage at www.gov.br/trabalho which provides the updated NR-1 and answers questions on the topic.
Ana Claudia Badra Cotait is the president of CMEC – The National Council of Female Entrepreneurs and Culture – an entity of the Associação Comercial de São Paulo (ACSP), the Federação das Associações Comerciais do Estado de São Paulo (FACESP), and the Confederação das Associações Comerciais e Empresariais do Brasil (CACB)—which serves as a reference forum for studies, debates, and inspiration for female entrepreneurs, in addition to developing actions, campaigns, and social and cultural projects. It also acts as a platform for female leaders to discuss their issues and present proposals that mobilize the business community and organized society. It has over 900 women’s councils spread across Brazil.
