The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) and the Federal Labor Prosecutor’s Office (MPT) have formalized a strategic partnership to jointly tackle anticompetitive practices that also undermine labor rights. Through the signing of Technical Cooperation Agreement No. 3, published in the Official Gazette of the Union, the two institutions aim to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement against cartels and labor fraud across Brazil.
The agreement establishes mechanisms for cooperation in investigations, the sharing of data and documents, and the joint development of methodologies to address infractions that violate both economic and labor laws. Notably, the initiative targets practices such as the misuse of contractual arrangements to circumvent labor legislation, often found in cartelized environments.
Key Provisions and Objectives
Under the five-year agreement, CADE and the MPT will:
- Intensify the exchange of information relevant to investigations involving cartel behavior and violations of labor law;
- Develop and refine investigative techniques to identify and combat collusive practices with labor implications;
- Carry out joint technical training and capacity-building initiatives for personnel from both institutions;
- Coordinate local operations to enforce economic and labor protections;
- Promote the use of standardized procedures and shared tools for data analysis and enforcement.
The collaboration is coordinated by CADE’s General Superintendent and the MPT’s Chief Prosecutor, with technical support from both agencies’ internal teams. The nationwide agreement does not involve the transfer of financial resources between the parties; instead, each agency will bear the costs of its own participation.
Promoting Efficiency and Public Interest
According to Alexandre Cordeiro Macedo, President of CADE, “This partnership enhances our ability to address sophisticated and systemic violations of competition law that also erode labor protections. By working with the MPT, we amplify both institutions’ capacity to safeguard fair markets and just working conditions.”
José de Lima Ramos Pereira, Brazil’s Chief Labor Prosecutor, added, “Corporate conduct that harms competition often goes hand in hand with practices that exploit workers. Through this agreement, we are better equipped to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those responsible for both economic and labor violations.”
Next Steps and Implementation
As outlined in the annexed Work Plan, the agreement prioritizes early-stage coordination, including defining key contacts, selecting focus cases, and conducting joint technical workshops. It also emphasizes compliance with Brazil’s data protection framework, ensuring that shared information is handled securely and transparently.
The agreement reflects a broader governmental commitment to fostering institutional collaboration in defense of public interest, fair competition, and fundamental labor rights.
