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Bill 3661/2023 Aims to Change the Statute of the Elderly and Requires the Government to Create Programs and Tax Incentives to Stimulate the Hiring of Seniors, Combating Age Prejudice and Expanding Access to Work After 60 Years of Age.
The National Congress is advancing a proposal that could change the way Brazil regards aging and work in maturity. The Bill No. 3661/2023, authored by Deputy Luiz Gastão (PSD–CE), proposes an amendment to the Statute of the Elderly (Law 10.741/2003) to require the government to develop incentive programs for the hiring of seniors, including tax benefits and reintegration campaigns for the labor market.
The text, currently being processed in the Commission for the Defense of the Rights of the Elderly in the Chamber of Deputies, aims to tackle a growing problem: unemployment and professional exclusion of people over 60 years old. According to IBGE, Brazil has over 34 million elderly people, and about 25% still want or need to continue working — either for financial necessity or for the desire to remain active and productive.
A New Chapter in the Statute of the Elderly
The proposal amends Article 28 of the Statute to include a new item stating that “the Public Power must develop actions aimed at stimulating the hiring of elderly people, through tax incentives, training programs, and educational campaigns.”
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In practice, the project aims to create a bridge between population aging and employment policy, recognizing that the increase in life expectancy and the change in the country’s age structure require new strategies. Brazil is projected to have one elderly person for every three adults of working age by 2040, according to Ipea’s projections.
The Challenge of Age Prejudice and Reintegration
According to the author of the project, Luiz Gastão, the proposal is a way to address the so-called “Professional Ageism” — the prejudice that prevents experienced professionals from finding jobs. “Many elderly people are discarded from the job market even with full productive capacity. It is necessary to correct this distortion with public policies that value and create opportunities,” said the parliamentarian during a public hearing.
Companies and trade unions recognize that the issue is urgent. Data from Dieese shows that the unemployment rate among people aged 60 to 69 has risen 25% in the last five years, especially after the pandemic. In contrast, sectors such as retail, services, and customer support have shown interest in professional inclusion programs for this age group.
Incentives and Possible Economic Impacts
The text does not yet define what fiscal incentives would be applied, but it paves the way for the federal government and the states to create their own stimulus policies.
Among the ideas discussed are reducing social security burdens for companies that hire people over 60, subsidized credit lines for businesses led by seniors, and hiring quotas in public temporary employment programs.
Experts believe that, if well implemented, the measure can have a significant social impact. Economist Luciana Seabra from Reag Investimentos consultancy points out that “the productive inclusion of seniors generates a dual benefit: it improves family income and reduces the pressure on Social Security and social assistance.”
A Country That Is Aging and Needs to Adapt
Population aging is one of the fastest demographic changes on the planet. Brazil went from 4.8% of elderly people in 1991 to 15.1% in 2024, and the aging pace is faster than that of developed countries.
However, employment and retirement policies are still based on a framework that presupposes a definitive exit from the labor market at 60 or 65 years of age.
Sociologist Rafael Rossetto, an expert in public policies for aging, states that “working longer is not only an economic necessity; it is also a way to maintain a sense of purpose and belonging.”
According to him, “the proposal is an important step to align Brazil with the practices of nations that already value senior workers.”
Processing and Next Steps
The project has already received a favorable preliminary report in the Commission for the Defense of the Rights of the Elderly and is expected to move on to the Labor and Finance and Taxation Committees before being voted on in plenary.
If approved, it could pave the way for a new public policy on senior employment, focusing on income generation and leveraging the accumulated experience of millions of Brazilians.
For the rapporteur, Deputy Paulo Litro (PSD–PR), “including the elderly in the labor market is not charity; it is social and economic intelligence.” He argues that the country needs to learn to utilize the productive potential of generations that helped build the modern economy and still have much to contribute.
Estou muito feliz com essa notícia, espero que se torne realidade tenho 54 anos e estou me preparando para fazer faculdade de Serviço Social em 2026.
Estou com 61 anos, porém a dificuldade pela idade ja foi percebida.Fiz minha inscrição em uma empresa ,mas para dar continuidade precisava fazer uma prova ,porém não me deixarám fazer esse **** ,fui cortado de imediato ,parece que não fazemos parte da sociedade.Infelizmente e isso o etarismo esta implantado no Brasil em grande escala.
Passei 3 meses ba Flórida e às trabalham muitas idosas bem vestidas e máquinas!Eu trabalhei muitos anos como caixa,professora e 25 anos como auxiliar de saúde bucal!Gostaria muito voltar nessa área!Experiência tenho muita!