Brazilian Senate's Economic Affairs Committee to Analyze Caregiver Profession Regulation
Brazil's Senate Economic Affairs Committee is set to evaluate a consolidated bill regulating the caregiver profession, defining qualifications, work conditions, and hiring options, alongside a proposal for free transport for cancer patients.
- • The CAE will discuss a consolidated caregiver regulation bill on February 24, 2026.
- • The substitute bill, presented by Senator Augusta Brito, combines multiple proposals defining caregiver qualifications and work conditions.
- • Caregivers must be over 18, have basic education, professional training, and no criminal record.
- • Hiring modalities include formal contracts, domestic work, or as microentrepreneurs, with defined maximum work hours.
- • The committee will also review a bill ensuring free public transport for cancer patients and companions.
Key details
The Comissão de Assuntos Econômicos (CAE) in the Brazilian Senate is scheduled to discuss the regulation of the caregiver profession in its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10 AM. The discussion centers around PL 76/2020, introduced by Senator Chico Rodrigues, which establishes guidelines for caregivers assisting the elderly, children, disabled individuals, and those with rare diseases. Alongside it, two other bills – PL 5.178/2020 by Senator Paulo Paim and PL 5.300/2023 by Senator Carlos Viana – are under consideration.
Senator Augusta Brito, serving as rapporteur, has presented a substitute bill that consolidates these three proposals into a unified regulatory framework. The substitute bill stipulates that caregivers must be at least 18 years old, have completed basic education, completed a professional qualification course, and possess a clean criminal record. It permits hiring under various modalities, including formal employment, domestic worker contracts, and as microentrepreneurs (MEI). Work schedules are capped at an eight-hour daily and 44-hour weekly limit or allow 12-hour shifts followed by 36 hours of rest.
In addition to caregiver regulation, the committee will examine PL 2.718/2025, which proposes free transportation on buses, trains, and boats for cancer patients and their companions, with discounts on airline tickets. This bill, authored by Senator Dra. Eudócia, amends the Estatuto da Pessoa com Câncer, with Senator Damares Alves as rapporteur recommending its approval.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
