Source: InfoMoney - SP, 09/07/2009

SÃO PAULO - The difficulty of informing the Individual Entrepreneur in Brazil was pointed out as the biggest challenge to overcome for the Complementary Law 128/08, which provides for this new legal figure, to work.

In force since July 1, the law allows informal workers to have access to social security benefits, such as retirement by age, sickness benefit and maternity leave, stressed the Minister of Social Security, José Pimentel.

What is now being questioned is what to do to bring information to these workers in all Brazilian municipalities and to convince them of the advantages of formalization.

During a debate promoted this week by the Chamber of Deputies, the Secretary of Employment and Labor Relations of the State of São Paulo, Guilherme Afif Domingos, warned of the fact that it will be necessary to deal with the distrust of the target audience. Another difficulty, in his opinion, concerns the State bureaucracy to, for example, grant operating licenses.

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The Secretary of Commerce and Service of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Edson Lupatini, acknowledged the difficulty pointed out in the debate. And he said that the new system needs adjustments to adapt to reality.

But he added that these adjustments are already being made and that the federal government is acting quickly, with the help of partners like Sebrae.

In the opinion of the president of Sebrae, Paulo Okamotto, it is possible to take information to informal workers. To this end, the organization has already produced 1 million booklets, which are being distributed throughout Brazil, as well as closing agreements with accountants, to address this audience more effectively. “We want all entrepreneurs in the communities to be served by Sebrae in person”.

The chairman of the Finance and Taxation Commission, Mr Vignatti (PT-SC), who coordinated the seminar, asked for the support of mayors from all over the country in the work of identifying individual entrepreneurs. Legislative assemblies could also help regulate the law in the states, he said.