Brazilian Legislature Advances National Regulation for Street Vendors
Brazil's Chamber of Deputies commission approved a landmark bill regulating street vending, defining workers' rights and limiting inspections to ensure fair treatment nationwide.
- • Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies commission approved a bill regulating street vending nationally.
- • The bill removes the previous six-month unemployment proof requirement for vendors.
- • Vendors have 15 days to provide documentation before goods may be confiscated.
- • The legislation aims to protect honest workers and hold inspectors accountable.
Key details
On January 24, 2026, Brazil's Chamber of Deputies' Commission on Industry, Commerce, and Services approved a significant bill aimed at establishing national regulation for street vending across the country. The legislation, a substitute for Project 575/25 originally proposed by Deputy Duda Ramos (MDB-RR), seeks to clarify the rights and duties of street vendors while limiting the scope of government inspections to protect vendors acting in good faith.
Key provisions of the bill include removing the discriminatory requirement that proposed street vendors must prove six months of unemployment before engaging in vending. This barrier was eliminated to encourage access to legal commerce. The law also grants vendors a 15-day window to present documentation verifying the lawful origin of their goods prior to any confiscation or penalties, ensuring fair treatment. Inspectors will be held accountable for unjust actions, focusing their efforts on preventing illicit products rather than penalizing honest workers.
Deputy Gilson Marques (Novo-SC), the bill's rapporteur, emphasized that the legislation is designed to support honest labor and reduce structural barriers to formal employment. He noted, "Street vendors are symptoms of structural obstacles to formal employment rather than the cause of informality," highlighting that more than half a million Brazilians rely on this work for their income.
Following the commission's approval, the bill will proceed to further scrutiny by the Committees on Labor, Constitution and Justice, and Citizenship before a vote by the full Chamber of Deputies. For the legislation to become law, it requires approval from both the Chamber and the Senate.
This step represents a major stride toward legal clarity and worker protection in Brazil's informal commerce sector, which has long grappled with inconsistent regulation and enforcement practices. The new rules aim to balance regulatory oversight with respect for the rights of street vendors, fostering a more equitable commercial environment nationwide.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
