Working in Brazil

[Joat]

I've been offered a job by a UK company to work in Brazil. The contract is for 6 months plus.

Obviously the Covid situation is a major concern.

I'll be working as a Ltd company, so Tax is an issue and I don't think there is a double taxation agreement between UK/Brazil.

Anybody on here had experience working in Brazil?

Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[Drl22]

No experience of working there but I’d recommend you grab it with both hands. I lived there on and off for a while and it’s an incredible place to be. Depending on where you are going of course.

[Joat]

The contract, is at a steelworks on the southeast coast, place name Vitória capital city of Espírito Santo state.

[Jader1973]

I’d ask questions about personal safety / security.

One of my suppliers had a plant in Brazil and when they went to visit they were picked up at the airport, taken to hotel, hotel to plant, plant to hotel etc and were not allowed out on their own because of safety concerns.

May not be relevant but worth checking.

[anonymous-user]

I’ve not been, I was meant to go and had arrangements to go and work there but something else came up.

Safety was a big thing, not so much in the more metropolitan areas but iirc I was not allowed to drive, not allowed to use taxis and would have had a driver and guard for the trip to site and back to my accommodation. This was not in a major city.

A friend of a friend worked there in some sort of IT capacity and didn’t have any of the above and loved it, he might still be there actually ... I think he was in Rio.

No help sorry, but I’d go.

[Lotus Notes]

Just go for the experience - Great people and pretty ladies...

I echo the caution about personal safety - Sao Paulo and certain parts of Rio can be dicey, I don't know about Vitoria, but like any city in the World, there are places to avoid, just have your wits about you and follow local advice.

[vaud]

Security is often an issue. When we go for business we have to stay in specific hotels and have company provided drivers and normally a local manager accompanies us for dinner, etc (which is always nice as they know the best places)

If our teams are staying there for a period then it's normally in a managed development with other expats and some security. If you are going alone then I'd look for a local company to help/advise.

It's not a "no go" country but "caution" and a lot of common sense...

[shirt]

i worked in manaus and macapa and have colleagues who've been to other locations. vitoria looks great, i say go for it.

safety/security measures above are strong imo. usual street smarts apply, find out where the no go areas are etc. it's not hard. hotel to work:work to hotel, no thanks. i've been to far worse places. just back from a month in burkina faso, no security and never needed any either.

what's the role? i did 8yrs with british steel and 6mths in brazil would be great.

[Joat]

shirt said:

i worked in manaus and macapa and have colleagues who've been to other locations. vitoria looks great, i say go for it.

safety/security measures above are strong imo. usual street smarts apply, find out where the no go areas are etc. it's not hard. hotel to work:work to hotel, no thanks. i've been to far worse places. just back from a month in burkina faso, no security and never needed any either.

what's the role? i did 8yrs with british steel and 6mths in brazil would be great.

It's mechanical advisor on a repair project. I'm familiar with the construction, having been involved in similar projects around the world, but this would be my first trip to South America.

Which british steel plants have you worked on? I've been on most of them, currently at Port Talbot.

[StevieT735]

Worked offshore Brazil (Aracaju) 2014/15. There is a dual taxation agreement between the U.K. and Brazil. But the first year you’re there you aren’t liable for Brazilian Tax so cannot benefit should your company pay your local tax for you (28% from memory).

All the above is from memory and I am not an accountant. I would do some research including HMRC’s website to clarify the current situation in your situation.

I didn’t see much of the country, but from what I did, I got the feeling that it’s nice bits are extremely nice, but it’s rough parts are extremely rough. Caipirinhas are strong and Picanha is tasty. Enjoy.

[shirt]

Joat said:

It's mechanical advisor on a repair project. I'm familiar with the construction, having been involved in similar projects around the world, but this would be my first trip to South America.

Which british steel plants have you worked on? I've been on most of them, currently at Port Talbot.

I started at shotton then moved to designing section mills at sunny scunny. Ended up responsible for thrybergh with occasional jaunts up to teesside.

I now PM power projects globally based out of Uae.

The last truly amazing moment ive had was flying into a bauxite mine in the Amazon. Small plane from manaus following the river, breathtaking scenery for something with no changes in elevation.

[RSbandit]

My wife is from southern Brazil so been there many times for holidays and family etc...never on business so cant comment from that angle. I've never had anything less than positive experiences every time I've been there but you just need to be sensible the bigger cities have areas you don't want to venture into (like anywhere I guess) and carjacking at gun point has happened to a couple of my wives extended family (no one hurt thankfully)...late at night my in-laws don't stop at traffic lights if possible(that was in Porto Alegre). Prob best to use taxis or a local driver if heading out and about as its certainly less safe than the UK. If you can speak Portuguese that's a big plus as english is not so widely spoken even in Rio and SP...I'd go for it should be a great experience and yes the local ladies are v easy on the eye!