Proposal creates rules for contracts, minimum income and use of AI; sector demands financing and supervision
Experts and representatives of the cultural sector defended in the Chamber of Deputies the creation of rules to protect workers in the sector. The subject was the subject of 2 debates in the Culture Commission in the week of April 13, 2026.
At the meetings, the draft of the Culture, Arts and Events Worker Statute was discussed, which proposes creating specific rules for the sector. The meetings were coordinated by deputy Erika Kokay (PT-DF) and deputy Tarcísio Motta (Psol-RJ).
The proposal creates a legal framework for the sector, by recognizing characteristics such as intermittency (discontinuous work) and the existence of multiple links.
Researcher Frederico Augusto Barbosa da Silva, from Ipea (Institute of Applied Economic Research), explained the differences in this field of activity: “Cultural work is marked by intermittence, multiple links and structural informality. There are differences in relation to CLT [Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho]”.
Among the proposals in the text are:
- qualified intermittent contract – stipulates work for periods, with payment for availability and recognition of intervals without activity;
- complementary cultural insurance – inspired by models from France and Portugal, seeks to ensure minimum income in periods without projects;
- rules for using artificial intelligence – include protection of the image, voice and style of artists.
FINANCING AND SUPERVISION
Civil society representatives demanded the definition of financing sources for the new protection fund.
Jorge Bichara, from Cntec (National Confederation of Workers in Education and Cultural Establishments), suggested using resources from Condecine (Contribution to the Development of the National Film Industry), in addition to notices and box office taxes.
Enforcement was also cited as a challenge.
The president of the Union of Artists and Technicians in Entertainment Shows of Paraná, Adriano Esturilho, stated that companies often refuse to register contracts, citing the so-called pejotização (hiring as a legal entity). “The fact that we are MEI cannot justify the withdrawal of rights gained in 1978”these.
GOVERNMENT POSITION
The Ministry of Culture defended the approval of the proposal urgently.
The director of Policies for Culture Workers, Deryc Santana, stated that the pandemic highlighted the importance of art, but also the need to guarantee rights for those who work in the sector. “If we miss this opportunity, progress could take decades”he warned.
The director of the Funarte Technical Arts Center (National Arts Foundation), Carila Matzenbacher, highlighted that artistic production also depends on technical professionals. “The statute is important because it recognizes both artists and technicians as part of cultural rights”he stated.
This text was originally published by , on April 15, 2026, at 8:04 pm. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the standard of Poder360.
