Brazilian Deputy Proposes New Minimum Wages for Service Workers

Deputy Vanderlan Alves (Solidariedade‑CE) introduced five federal bills that would set national minimum wages for several low‑paid service occupations. The proposals set a R$2,850 monthly floor for fuel station workers, R$2,700 for restaurant and bar staff, R$2,450 for receptionists, R$3,000 for administrative assistants, and R$3,200 for school support personnel assisting students with disabilities. All floors apply to a 40‑hour week, would be indexed annually to the INPC, and prohibit the use of tips to replace the base salary. The projects also require compliance with existing hazard‑pay rules where relevant and allow collective agreements to offer higher wages.

In a separate legislative matter, Brazil’s Congress is expected to postpone voting on the 2027 budget and the accompanying Lei de Diretrizes Orçamentárias (LDO) until August. The LDO, received in April, projects a minimum wage of at least R$1,717 for 2027. Delays stem from the electoral calendar, the late installation of the mixed budget committee, and competing national events. The timing will affect the approval of the annual budget and related spending priorities for the Lula administration.