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CNC President, José Roberto Tadros, Claims That Bolsa Família Discourages Employment and Advocates for the Creation of an “Exit Door” to Balance Social Assistance and Economic Growth.
During the opening of the 2025 Trade Forum, held this Thursday (30) at the Sesc Casa do Comércio Theater in Salvador (BA), the president of the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC), José Roberto Tadros, issued a warning about the labor shortage in the country.
According to him, entrepreneurs from various sectors have faced increasing difficulties in hiring employees, especially in basic activities, and part of this problem is linked to the dependency created by the Bolsa Família program.
“Businesspeople have frequently complained that people are not seeking jobs because they are all under the aegis of Bolsa Família,” Tadros stated at a press conference.
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Bolsa Família Needs an “Exit Door,” Says Tadros
The CNC president argued that the federal government needs to rethink the structure of Bolsa Família, creating an “exit door” for beneficiaries who have already reached the conditions to seek formal employment.
“We are advocating to the government to find an exit door for Bolsa Família, not just an entry. It is necessary to create economic and political mechanisms that allow these people to evolve and access the labor market,” he emphasized.
For Tadros, the challenge is to balance the social function of the program, ensuring the survival of the most vulnerable, with real incentives for productive reintegration.
Commerce and Services Support the Economy, But Are Stalled by a Lack of Workers
In his speech, the leader reminded that commerce, services, and tourism account for between 73% and 75% of Brazil’s GDP, and that the sector generates over 85% of formal jobs in the country.
Nonetheless, the advancement of companies has been limited by the difficulties in finding available and qualified labor, especially in regions with a high concentration of families benefiting from social programs.
“The tertiary sector is the one that employs the most in Brazil, but the entrepreneur cannot expand their business simply because they cannot find anyone willing to work,” Tadros said.
The CNC leader also emphasized the strategic role of Bahia in the national economy:
“Bahia is the fourth electoral college in the country, and Salvador is one of the most populous cities. Everything started here, and it is also here that we need to show that Brazil can grow with balance and opportunities.”
Social Dependency vs. Economic Dynamism
Tadros’ remarks reflect a growing concern among business entities regarding the collateral effect of prolonged assistance on the labor market.
In the background, the commerce and services sector assess that the combination of high social benefits and informality has distanced part of the economically active population from formal jobs.
Economists argue that the country needs to adopt transition policies that connect minimum income programs with professional training and productive insertion, in order to avoid the perpetuation of state dependency.
2025 Trade Forum Discusses Challenges and Innovations in the Sector
The 2025 Trade Forum brought together entrepreneurs, economists, and government representatives to discuss trends and obstacles affecting the commerce and services sector in Brazil.
Topics discussed include the digitization of businesses, the rise of e-commerce platforms, tax reform, and the impact of social policies on formal employment.
During the event, Tadros emphasized that the CNC will continue dialoguing with the federal government to seek solutions that encourage the formalization of work without compromising the social safety net.
A Debate That Goes Beyond Bahia
The CNC president’s statements resonate at a time when the country shows a low unemployment rate (5.6%), but faces a reduction in the labor force participation rate, especially among young and low-income workers.
This situation raises alarms in sectors that heavily depend on labor, such as commerce, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. For analysts, Tadros’ message extends beyond Bahia: it is a call for a review of public policies that, while well-intentioned, may be stifling national productivity.
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