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The explosive growth of MEIs is radically changing the way Brazilians view work, challenging traditional models, revealing new professional ambitions and reigniting debates about rights, security and the future of formal employment across the country.
A Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), which for decades shaped the employment relationship in Brazil, has been losing strength in the face of the exponential growth of individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs).
In 2024, according to data from Sebrae, 78% of new companies created in the country fell into the MEI category, a phenomenon that reflects a profound transformation in labor relations.
Of the 2,8 million small businesses opened in the year, 2,1 million were registered as MEIs, consolidating this form of action as the new face of Brazilian entrepreneurship.
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The rise of the MEI represents a historic change in the profile of the Brazilian worker, which increasingly opts for a professional model based on autonomy, flexibility and less bureaucracy.
According to IBGE, in 2021, MEIs already corresponded to 69,7% of all companies and organizations in the country — an index that tends to expand in the coming years with the advancement of technology and the emergence of new forms of work.
A new professional profile
Since it was created in 2008, the Individual Microentrepreneur regime has proven to be an accessible and attractive alternative, especially for those who want to leave informality.
Initially, only 8,4% of new CNPJs were MEIs. Today, this reality has changed radically., driven by factors such as the reduction of bureaucracy in the process, the reduced cost of taxes and the need to generate income independently.
With the digitalization of services and the popularization of remote work, professionals from different sectors began to seek more control over their routines and personal goals..
This movement is visible in the numbers: in 2021, 50,2% of MEIs were concentrated in the services sector, while 29,3% worked in commerce — areas that require low initial investment and offer a large margin for autonomous action.
Why are so many workers becoming MEIs?
Simple, fast and digital formalization is one of the main attractions for those who decide to open a CNPJ as an MEI.
Currently, the procedure can be carried out in just a few minutes online, without the need for intermediaries or high fees.
The fixed monthly contribution, which is around R$70 to R$80, includes federal taxes and access to social security benefits., such as retirement by age, sickness benefit and maternity pay.
We also pack any the model allows the worker greater freedom to choose their schedules, clients and projects, making it ideal for those seeking a more balanced lifestyle.
Cases like that of Adriano Pain, a former firefighter who moved into entrepreneurship, are increasingly common.
For him, being MEI means “have control over your own time and be able to better balance your professional and personal life".
Autonomy has its price
Despite the advantages, the MEI model also presents important challenges, especially when it comes to financial security.
Unlike the CLT regime, individual microentrepreneurs do not have automatic access to rights such as paid vacations, 13th salary and unemployment insurance.
To compensate for this lack of guarantees, many professionals have resorted to strategies such as financial planning, emergency reserves and taking out private insurance.
Adriano Pain, for example, makes additional contributions to the INSS and invests part of his income to ensure stability in the future.
This type of organization is essential for those who want to maintain the freedom of entrepreneurship without giving up security..
The impact on the Brazilian labor market
Mass migration to the MEI regime is reshaping the national labor market, challenging the traditional employment relationship model.
In a scenario of high rates of informality and unemployment, becoming a microentrepreneur has been the way out for millions of Brazilians.
However, This transformation raises concerns about social protection and labor rights.
According to sociologist Clemente Ganz Lúcio, a labor market specialist, the growth of self-employment requires the creation of new public policies aimed at this professional category.
“We are facing a new paradigm that demands equally innovative responses,” says the expert.
An example of this new reality could be seen in the strike by app drivers in São Paulo, in March 2025.
The workers demanded better working conditions, minimum rights and greater transparency in the rules of digital platforms.
The movement drew attention to the urgency of updating the legal framework that regulates work in Brazil, especially in light of new forms of employment.
Global Trend and Future of Work
The growth of MEIs in Brazil follows a global trend of more flexible employment relationships, also observed in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and India.
There, the concept of “gig economy” — on-demand economy — has been consolidating as an alternative for millions of workers seeking freedom and multiple sources of income.
In Brazil, this trend is intensifying amid a growing debate about quality of life, work-leisure balance, and mental health.
Proposals to reduce weekly working hours and four-day workweeks have gained space on the political and business agenda.
In this context, MEI emerges as a concrete option for those who want to escape the traditional 44-hour workweek model and the rigidity of formal contracts..
At the same time, it offers a bridge to the formalization of small businesses and the development of the local economy, especially in regions with few formal jobs available.
According to Sebrae, around 30% of MEIs have as their main objective to transform the business into a micro-enterprise in the following years.
In other words, for many, being an MEI is just the first step in a long-term entrepreneurial journey.
The challenge of digital inclusion and financial education
Despite the significant growth, the success of the MEI model still depends on a series of structural factors, such as access to quality internet, professional training and financial education.
For many Brazilians, the lack of knowledge about management and taxation can compromise the sustainability of the business.
Programs such as “Sebrae Delas”, aimed at female entrepreneurship, and “Brasil Mais Empreendedor”, focused on young people, have sought to fill this gap with workshops, mentoring and free support.
Initiatives like these are essential for microentrepreneurship to truly become a solid and sustainable alternative in the country..
Does the growth of MEIs represent the beginning of the end of the CLT as we know it? Or is there room for a new hybrid model that combines freedom and protection?
