Lula vetoes project that guaranteed Bolsa Família for harvest workers

The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), completely vetoed PL (Bill) 715/2023, which prevented the loss of social benefits, such as the family allowance, for rural workers hired on a temporary basis, known as seasonal workers.

The project had been approved by the Senate in December 2025 and by the Chamber, by symbolic vote, in May of this year.

In the DOU (Official Gazette of the Union) this Thursday (11), the Presidency justified the veto as it considered the rule unconstitutional and contrary to the public interest.

The statement also highlighted that the PL creates mandatory expenses of a continuous nature, without presenting the origin of the resources for this expense and estimates of the budgetary and financial impact.

Another point presented in the DOU was the lack of proof that these additional expenses would affect fiscal results targets.

According to the statement sent to Congress, the following were consulted and spoke in favor of the veto: Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger.

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What is the Safristas Law
Seen as one of the priorities of the FPA (Agricultural Parliamentary Front), the Safristas Law seeks to prevent rural workers hired temporarily for the harvest from losing social benefits, such as Bolsa Família, due to the momentary increase in income during the working period

The proposal changes rules related to the harvest contract and provides mechanisms to prevent income obtained during seasonal periods of rural work from being used as an automatic factor for exclusion from social programs.

The Project predicted that families who eventually leave the program after the end of the so-called protection rule will be able to return to Bolsa Família within 36 months, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria again.

Source: CNN