Author: Carlos Alexandre

Source: Correio Braziliense - DF - OPINION - 01/09/2009

The Correio joined an important initiative to combat a serious national problem: economic informality. The law of the individual entrepreneur, in force since July, represents an opportunity for the worker who wishes to become a subject recognized by the production capacity and acting in the eyes of the State. In Brazil, more than 10 million people survive in the informal market, including 170 Brasilians. They are self-employed who have professions called “husband for hire”, “handyman”, “breaker” and even derogatory terms - “trambiqueiro”. Most work on the street, without the right to a formal contract, social security contribution or health insurance.

Survival reports were part of a meeting held last week at the newspaper's headquarters. Stories were heard of people running a small business - like a kiosk, a popcorn cart, etc. - and you need to obtain a CNPJ, negotiate a loan in order to increase sales, receive guidance not to close your doors in a few months. It is an economic mass that craves corporate citizenship, a concept that is still unprecedented, especially for the Brazilian economy, characterized by the concentration of income and dignity.

The law of the individual entrepreneur is reported by Senator Adelmir Santana (DEM-DF) and has the operational arm of Sebrae. The program applies to workers with a gross annual income of R $ 36 thousand and has the collaboration of Caixa Econômica Federal, which opened special credit lines for those who start their entrepreneurial careers. The Federal District Government is also engaged, with the installation of service stations in all administrative regions.

A merit of the program is the effort to encourage private initiative. With the encouragement of entrepreneurial activity, the worker becomes less dependent on the State, a job provider in Brazil since colonial times. The predominance of public service in Brasília causes distortions, such as the swelling of the administrative machine and the excessive hiring of civil servants without a competition, in addition to abusive practices, such as nepotism and clientelism. The law of the individual entrepreneur helps to break this vicious cycle.