Romeu Zema proposes job requirements for Bolsa Família beneficiaries

Presidential candidate and former Governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, has proposed changes to the Bolsa Família social program. In a video released on August 12, Zema stated he would require ‘healthy men of working age’ to accept job offers to remain in the program.

Zema criticized the current model, alleging that some beneficiaries use assistance funds for gambling and that social programs may be contributing to homelessness. He emphasized that the program should be maintained for those who truly need it, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with caretaking responsibilities.

His government plan includes the ‘Casas da Cidadania’ program, which aims to provide vulnerable families with individualized professional training, housing, and access to employment. Under this proposal, continued receipt of Bolsa Família would be conditioned on proof of job searching, studying, or professional qualification, with the possibility of suspending benefits for those who refuse formal job offers without justification.