Government plans credit for companies affected by the end of the 6x1 schedule, says Durigan

The economic team is studying offering credit lines and training programs for companies that face difficulties with the end of the 6x1 work schedule, Finance Minister Dario Durigan said this Friday (16th). According to him, the impact of the constitutional amendment on employers is still to be assessed, but the government expects to provide specific financing for the transition. "It's possible that we will do, for example, some kind of credit line or training for innovation," Durigan said in an interview with TV Band this Friday (16th). The measure, the minister stressed, seeks to help businesses adapt to the new workweek, with investments in innovation and productivity. Durigan also mentioned that the government intends to support companies affected by the tax reform. Innovation and training Durigan said the economic team is still analyzing which companies and sectors will be most affected by the change. The intention is to direct support to businesses that need more resources to reorganize their activities. According to the minister, adaptation may involve modernizing processes, training employees, and adopting new technologies to maintain production even with fewer working days. "Business owners must have the government's support to take part in this new era, which is a civilizational change," he declared. The minister cited the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) and other training systems as partners in training initiatives, especially for small businesses. Support for small businesses Durigan said the government has already raised the credit limit for small businesses, from R$ 250,000 to R$ 500,000, including for working capital operations — funds used to cover expenses and the day-to-day functioning of businesses. The minister did not announce a payroll tax exemption or other direct compensation for employers. Instead, he highlighted the possibility of targeted financing and training for companies that need to adapt. "We already have a plan to have specific credit lines for this transition, both for the tax reform and for the end of the 6x1 schedule," he said. Impact still to be assessed The change in the workweek was approved by Congress and promulgated this Friday. The new rule provides for two paid days off per week and a gradual reduction of the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours, without pay cuts. Durigan said the government will still measure the effects of the change on different sectors and company sizes. According to data cited by the minister, 68% to 70% of jobs in the country are outside the 6x1 schedule. He also argued that adaptation can bring productivity gains, with more efficient processes and lower worker turnover. Interest rates and fiscal adjustment In the interview, Durigan also said that the interest rate remains a challenge for the Brazilian economy. The minister defended the continuation of the adjustment of public accounts and the pursuit of larger primary surpluses in the coming years, but without abrupt changes in economic policy. "We will continue improving public accounts, generating a surplus, but gradually, without doing a handbrake turn in your life, without generating uncertainty and unpredictability," he said. Durigan said the strategy should preserve public policies and avoid negative impacts on economic activity. He stated that the proposal for a fiscal adjustment of 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the short term, debated during the elections, would require cuts to social programs and other policies.