Senate approves Aldir Blanc Law, and cultural workers will receive R$ 3 billion.
The Senate unanimously approved the bill to establish emergency aid for cultural workers, named the Aldir Blanc Law in honor of the composer and columnist who died from COVID-19 on May 4th. The text now goes to Bolsonaro for his signature.
Brasil de Fato - The Senate unanimously approved, this Thursday (4), the draft bill to establish emergency aid Exclusively for cultural workers, it is named the Aldir Blanc Law, in honor of the composer and columnist who died from Covid-19 on May 4th. The text now goes to President Jair Bolsonaro (without party affiliation) for his signature.
The proposal, of authored by congresswoman Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ) in partnership with other parliamentariansIts main objective is to guarantee R$ 600 per month to low-income informal workers, extend deadlines for the application of resources and tax payments, and prohibit the cutting off of water, electricity, and communication services, such as internet, for cultural companies that are unable to pay their bills.
In total, R$ 3 billion will be allocated to the sector. The money is currently held in the National Culture Fund (FNC), meaning it will not be diverted from other essential areas such as health and education. The allocation of these resources will be the responsibility of the states and municipalities.
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To be eligible for the aid, it is necessary to prove that one does not have formal employment, is not part of government income transfer programs, and has a monthly income of less than half the minimum wage (R$ 522) per family member.
Furthermore, the law aims to subsidize the maintenance of artistic spaces, small cultural businesses, and community organizations, as well as to support public notices, calls for proposals, awards, and the acquisition of assets related to the sector.
The funds must be transferred to municipalities and states within 15 days of the law's approval, according to the bill. After receiving the funds, municipalities and states will have 60 days to distribute the money to the workers.
According to the authors, the cultural sector accounts for more than 2% of Brazil's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in addition to employing more than 5% of the national workforce – which is equivalent to about 5 million people.