Source: Jornal do Commercio Brasil (RJ), 22/06/2009

More than 92% of businesses installed in the favelas of Manguinhos and Complexo do Alemão are informal, according to data from the business census in the communities included in the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), coordinated by the State Works Secretariat and released Friday . The research shows that the majority of these business owners - mostly women - did not try to formalize their companies or seek training and improvement courses in 2008. There is still no data on Rocinha, whose studies are nearing completion.

According to the vice-governor and state secretary of Works, Luiz Fernando Pezão, the government will direct actions to develop these favelas and their commercial reorganization. "We are coordinating with various state agencies and the city hall a package of incentives for the formalization of companies in the communities benefited by the PAC", he said, stressing that the idea is to reduce bureaucracy, attract other legal enterprises and promote professional training courses.

The household census revealed that Alemão has 85.655 residents in 17 communities and 26.634 properties. The Manguinhos Complex has 31.432 residents in 18 communities, and 11.444 properties.

According to the socio-economic survey, there are 5.186 companies or entrepreneurs in Alemão. Almost all businesses (92,3%) are informal. The vast majority (80,7%) did not try to formalize the deal, either because they did not feel the need to do so (35,9%), or because of a lack of capital (28,3%), or because of a lack of information (8,6 , 8%), due to bureaucracy (2,4%) or because of the tax burden and taxes (XNUMX%).

The census showed that women are ahead of most companies (51,5%), while 48,5% are organized by men. Regarding the type of business, the bars are in greater number (16,4%), followed by food companies (15,8%), beauty treatment (14,9%), clothing (5,3%) and passenger transport (3,5%). The best-selling products and / or services are beverages (14%), sweets (8,8%), beauty salon (8,2%), clothing (6,7%), food (4,3%), products perfumery (3,8%) and ice cream (2,9%).

Most business owners pay their suppliers in cash (67,4%) as well as their customers (88,8%). Of these, 97,2% pay in cash. In addition, 64,5% rate their business as stable and 23,5% say it is growing. The savings account was the main source of funds for the initial investment to open the business (33%), followed by FGTS (9,7%), loans with friends or family (9,4%) and bank loans (2,3, 55,9%). The source of investment funds is the company itself for 17,8%. Family and friends are 1,6% and banks, XNUMX%.

Regarding fundraising, 39,1% never tried or never used it, 12% pointed out the lack of proof of income as an obstacle and 4,9% said that the interest for this is high. The vast majority of owners (79,6%) did not participate in a training / improvement course in the last year.

In the Complexo de Manguinhos, there are 2.942 companies or entrepreneurs. As in Alemão, women are ahead of most businesses (54,1%), while men are 45,9%. The vast majority (93,5%) are also informal. Of these, 86,6% did not attempt to formalize the deal. The reasons that hampered legalization are lack of capital (50,1%), not feeling the need (14,7%), lack of information (11,3%), due to bureaucracy (8,3%) and 4,9 % point to the tax burden / taxes as an impediment.

In relation to the activity sector, bars account for 16,4% of the total business, while food products account for 14,5%, beauty treatment for 9,2%, daily cleaning for 5,5% and civil construction for 4,9, 62,7%. As in Alemão, most business owners pay their suppliers in cash (81,3%). The vast majority of customers (87,5%) also pay in cash, with 64% paying in cash. In addition, 30% rate their business as stable and XNUMX% say it is growing.

The loan with friends or family was the initial investment for opening a business for 21,3%, followed by the savings account (13,8%), FGTS (9,6%), and bank loan (2,8%). The source of investment funds is the company itself for 73,4%. Family and friends are 4,7% and banks only 1%. Regarding credit barriers, 61% have never tried or never used it, 6% point to proof of income and 6,1% say that interest is high. The vast majority of owners (84,8%) did not participate in a training / improvement course in the last year.