The pre-candidate for the Presidency, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), defended, if elected in October, the continuity of Bolsa Família and the maintenance of Income Tax exemption for workers with income of up to R$5,000, both policies created by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
The statements took place during the Rumos do Brasil forum, promoted by Veja magazinein São Paulo, which took place this Monday (15).
During the event, Flávio commented on a proposal to extend the period in which Bolsa Família beneficiaries can receive aid even after having obtained a formal job or other source of income.
“Many people have a prejudice towards those who are on Bolsa Família, as if they don’t want to work. It’s a mistake. Almost 70% of people who receive the benefit work informally, and don’t go to informality because they are afraid of losing the benefit”, defended the senator. “We have to understand that Bolsa Família is stability for those who have already gone hungry”, he highlighted.
According to Flávio, a solution to the insecurity regarding the risk of losing the new source of income and no longer counting on Bolsa Família would be the creation of a new program, which can “guarantee that people continue to earn Bolsa Família if they move to a job or open their company for a longer period”.
Under the current rule, when a beneficiary has a formal contract, they will receive, for two years, 50% of the amounts they received, as long as the family’s per capita income does not exceed half the minimum wage. After that, it is deleted from the program.
The senator also defended the continuity of the Income Tax exemption for those earning salaries of up to R$5,000, a measure approved and implemented by the Lula government this year. Regarding the measure, Flávio stated that he was in favor and that the idea was also a campaign promise from former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), but with the compensation of “giving up revenue and having somewhere to take it, without having to increase or create taxes”.
Despite the note, Flávio did not specify what the source of compensation would be for the tax waiver of the group covered by the exemption measure.
