Amazonas enacts law to support elderly women's entrepreneurship

New legislation in Amazonas, Law No. 6.175/2023, has been established to promote professional training and entrepreneurship for elderly women living in the state's interior. Authored by Adjuto Afonso, president of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Amazonas (Aleam), the law aims to provide educational opportunities through lectures, seminars, and courses. These programs may be delivered in person, semi-presencial, or remotely, potentially through partnerships with technological education institutions.

The initiative responds to demographic shifts and economic challenges in the region. Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) indicates that the elderly population in Amazonas grew from 249 people aged 60 or older per thousand inhabitants in 2012 to 377 in 2022. Additionally, Amazonas ranks fourth among Brazilian states for female unemployment rates, a situation often attributed to a lack of professional qualification.

Afonso noted that the “feminization of old age” often results in women becoming low-income heads of households who rely on precarious informal work. The law seeks to reduce inequalities and strengthen local economies by providing technical skills to women in rural areas.