Brazil plans to expand support for micro-entrepreneurs
BRASILIA, June 24 (Reuters) – Brazil’s government will announce measures to improve support for gig workers and small businesses in the coming days, including proposals to raise the income ceiling for benefits and tax-debt renegotiation, and expand access to public sector purchases, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship said on Wednesday.
• Micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs) make up a simplified Brazilian business category created by the government to formalize self-employed workers, such as food delivery and rideshare drivers, and small business owners.
• The measures aim to strengthen opportunities for more than 16 million formalized MEIs in Brazil, the ministry said.
• It did not detail the new ceiling for benefits and tax-debt renegotiation, but Finance Minister Dario Durigan said last week that by 2028 workers earning up to about 130,000 reais ($25,023), up from 81,000 reais now, would be eligible.
• Another measure will regularize debts of MEIs registered in federal active debt so they can operate again and access benefits.
• A third pillar will expand the “Contrata + Brasil” program, which allows small businesses to sell to the public sector, through an expanded network of participating entities.
($1 = 5.1953 reais)
(Reporting by Bernardo Caram; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Sonali Paul)
