Leaders ask for MP to split the re-encumbrance – 02/06/2024 – Market

The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT), stated this Tuesday (6) that he will take to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) the proposal presented by Senate leaders to slice the MP (provisional measure) which, among other matters, reburdens 17 sectors of the economy.

Congressmen have defended that the re-encumbrance of the payroll and the reduction of tax compensation for municipalities be discussed with Congress through a bill with constitutional urgency — which gives each of the Houses a period of 45 days for analysis.

Tax compensation made by companies through court decisions and Perse (Emergency Program for the Resumption of the Events Sector), other points covered by the MP, would continue to be processed through the current text, according to the minister.

“I believe that [esse assunto] will be resolved this week. And I believe that we will approve these measures to provide comfort for the country to prosper with more balanced accounts”, said Haddad, highlighting that the agreement on “form and content” depends on Lula.

Last month, the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), had stated that the federal government had committed to repealing the December MP without the sections dealing with payroll tax exemption. Haddad, at the time, disagreed.

This Tuesday, Haddad met with senators from the allied base, such as Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL), majority leader, and Cid Gomes (PSB-CE).

The meeting with federal deputies ended up being canceled amid the discomfort caused by the speech this Monday (5) by the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).

After the group’s meeting with Haddad, the government leader in Congress, senator Randolfe Rodrigues (No party-AP), stated that there is still no decision on the need to revoke the current MP.

Randolfe also said that the Minister of Finance reported suspected irregularities involving Perse.

As revealed by Sheet, the Federal Revenue Service is investigating signs that Perse is being used for money laundering operations from illicit activities in the country. The value declared by companies last year reached R$17 billion, while the estimate was for an annual expenditure of R$4.4 billion.

This Tuesday, 17 parliamentary fronts — such as those for entrepreneurship and agriculture — delivered a manifesto to the presidents of the Senate and Chamber in which they state that the government has disrespected decisions of the National Congress.

In the document, parliamentarians once again defended Pacheco’s return to the MP for the reinstatement, arguing that Congress had already deliberated on the issue days before, overturning President Lula’s veto and maintaining the benefit.

The text also criticizes the Ministry of Labor ordinance that makes working on holidays difficult and calls for a vote on the project that reverses the initiative. Finally, the group demands participation in the drafting of complementary tax reform laws.

The payroll tax exemption for 17 sectors of the economy was approved by Congress last year, but the text ended up being completely vetoed by Lula.

In return, the Minister of Finance sent a new MP to Congress, with the gradual reinstatement of the payroll. The measure, announced by Haddad on December 28th of last year, is valid from April 1st.

The idea of ​​the Ministry of Finance is to take into account the main activity that companies perform through the CNAE (National Classification of Economic Activities). According to an assessment made by the SPE (Secretariat of Economic Policy), there will be two large groups.

In the group of 17 activities that have the greatest benefits today, a rate of 10% would be applied to the employees’ minimum wage range. For another 25 activities, which have fewer benefits under the current exemption system, the employer contribution would be 15%.

Author of the bill that extended the exemption, the leader of União Brasil, senator Efraim Filho (PB), told journalists this Tuesday that he reinforced to the Minister of Finance that the edition of the MP was frowned upon by the National Congress.

“What is expected, by the end of the week, is that there will be a possible revocation of this section [da desoneração] of the provisional measure to be replaced by PL”, he stated.

The payroll tax relief applies to 17 sectors of the economy. Among them is communication, which includes Grupo Folha, the company that publishes the Sheet.

Footwear, call center, clothing and clothing, civil construction, construction companies and infrastructure works, among others, are also covered.