Congressman Alencar Santana has proposed that smaller creditors have specific lots in the program’s auctions and, therefore, not have to compete with larger banks and corporations for the guarantee of the National Treasury
BRASÍLIA – Deputy Alencar Santana (PT-SP), rapporteur of the bill establishing the rules of the Desenrola Brasil programaimed at negative consumers, it made changes to the text to favor individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs) and micro and small businesses wishing to renegotiate their debts with customers.
The lawmaker proposed that these creditors have specific lots in the auctions of the program and, in this way, they do not have to compete with banks and larger companies for the resources of the national treasury, which will guarantee the debts in case of default (read more below). The bill received an urgent processing request passed this Monday 4 in the House and is expected to be voted on its merits later this week.
The government provided BRL 8 billion from the Operations Guarantee Fund (FGO), managed by Banco do Brasil, to support the programme. The values, however, are insufficient in consideration of the question from millions of negatives, which justifies the need for auctions. According to the rules, creditors who offer the greatest discounts on the principal portion of the debt will be able to participate and have the guarantee of public money.
“It is useless to have a big bank in competition (a little) reseller. It is necessary to have a proportion to the size of the creditor,” says Santana in an interview with Estadao.
The adaptation of the text, to the benefit of the MEI and small businesses, takes place in the context of the dispute over FGO resources. As shown the Estadaothe reserve of part of the fund to Desenrola ended up reducing the resources available to Pronampe, a credit line aimed specifically at entrepreneurs.
With the split, the banks warn that Pronampe’s values could only last until the end of this month and see the need for a R$6.5 billion contribution. The Ministry of Finance informs that various measures have been taken to guarantee the operation of the credit line, including the contribution of approximately R$ 1 billion from the folder.
When asked about the matter and whether there is concern about the credit volume of the sector, weakened by the pandemic, Santana says that Desenrola will also benefit Pronampe’s audience. “Small and micro-entrepreneurs will be able to qualify (for auctions) and then negotiate with your debtor. This is a good thing,” he says.
According to the rapporteur, the general effects of the program will also be felt on the sector: “(The unrolling) It offers consumers the possibility to resume their financial activity, which is good for consumption and for the economy”. Interested creditors will have until September 9 to register on the government platform that will hold electronic auctions.
Interest limit
Another point under discussion is the limit established for the interest charged by the banks participating in the program – currently set at 1.99% per month.
The group leader of União Brasil in the Chamber, the deputy Elmar Nascimento (União – BA), proposed a reduction in the tariff to the rapporteur, but Santana sees some difficulties: “Elmar brought us this suggestion. The problem is that the program is everything ready to start under that rate.”
The Ministry of Finance, he says, advised against the initiative, predicting that, with a lower rate, banks would not be profitable and, consequently, incentivized to collect debts.
“The ministry wants the bank to have an incentive to debit Desenrola’s possible debtor. Because otherwise the bank will think: if the debt is guaranteed, what do I undertake for, I make an expense to collect the debtor, if I have a real guarantee ( banked by the Union)? This interest, in a sense, is a certain stimulus, because the bank sees a gain in this operation,” he said.
The government’s goal is to exonerate the 70 million negative Brazilians and, therefore, without access to credit. This represents about 40% of the country’s adult population.
For Santana, if the discount on debt amounts reaches 90% – as happened in the first phase of the program, aimed at bank debts – it will be possible to recover up to 70 billion reals of unfulfilled commitments. However, he has doubts about how much discounts concessionaires of public services and small entrepreneurs will be able to offer.
Understand the process
A Desenrola’s first phase went into effect in July focusing on bank debts. In this phase, financial institutions had to automatically clear the name of those who had debts of up to R $ 100. They also had regulatory advantages to renegotiate the debts of consumers with a monthly income of up to R $ 20,000: there was no limit to the amount of debts.
already the the second phase is expected to start at the end of this month, focusing on the lowest income population and guaranteed by the National Treasury. Defaulters who have an income of up to 2 minimum wages and debts of up to R$5,000 will be eligible for this next phase of the program.
The government will organize auctions to obtain the maximum possible discount on the debts, which can be paid in cash or in installments over 60 months, with a maximum interest of 1.99% per month.
To make these interest rates sustainable and ensure banks’ appetite, the Treasury will guarantee any defaults that may occur on loans. For this, the Treasury will have R$8 billion available from the FGO.
In addition to debts to banks – which are concentrated in the revolving credit card, which has an interest rate of over 400% per annum -, consumers will be able to renegotiate debts with retailers and with water, electricity and telephone companies.
Serasa data, referring to October 2022 and compiled by Febraban, indicate that negative debts amount to R$ 301.5 billion and are distributed as follows: 14.9% in financials; 28.8% in banking institutions; and 66.3% in other businesses, such as retailers and basic service companies.
Source: Terra
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