The Brazilian Congress approves an aid for informal workers by COVID-19



The Brazilian Congress unanimously approved on Monday a project that provides for the payment of a subsidy of 600 reais (about $ 115) for informal and self-employed workers, in order to mitigate the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the approval of the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate today gave the green light to the text and the document now continues for the sanction of the Brazilian president, the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, who may eventually veto some points in it.

The bill approved by parliamentarians increases the initial proposal announced by the Brazilian government two weeks ago by 400 reais (about $ 77) and extends to informal, intermittent workers - when the link with the employer is not fixed - and small entrepreneurs from the country.

The text establishes that the subsidies will be paid for a period of three months and are restricted to a maximum of two people from the same family. Likewise, women who are informal workers and mothers will be entitled to 1,200 reais per month ($ 232).

The money can only be released after the text is approved by Bolsonaro, so the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, urged the president to "immediately" sanction the bill.

The Independent Fiscal Institution (IIF) of the upper house estimates that nearly 30.5 million workers will be able to benefit from the measure and that expenses will amount to 59.8 billion reais (about $ 11.545 billion) in the three months of validity.

As explained in a press conference this Monday by the Minister of Citizenship, Onyx Lorenzoni, Brazilians will be able to access the benefit through the country's public banks, as long as they meet a series of requirements, such as being over 18, not being formally employed, not receiving any social benefits, such as unemployment insurance or pension, nor being included in any social program.

They must also verify a monthly per capita income of up to 552 reais ($ 106) or total monthly family income of up to 3,135 reais ($ 605).

The project also foresees that the payment of benefits may be extended by the Government within the framework of actions to mitigate the effects of the health crisis.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, the deaths from COVID-19 amount to 159 in Brazil, while the confirmed cases are already 4,579, although there is a "growing curve" that should be maintained in the coming weeks, until reaching the so-called peak of the disease.

Given the rapid spread of COVID-19, the governors of the 27 Brazilian states have adopted partial or total measures to prevent and combat the coronavirus, despite Bolsonaro's recurring criticism of the imposition of social isolation actions and the closure of trade. or churches.

This Sunday, the Brazilian president even went for a walk in Brasilia and greeted dozens of supporters, in addition to minimizing the pandemic again.

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