This Complementary Law, establishes the National Statute of Micro- and Small Enterprises, a comprehensive legal framework to provide differentiated, simplified and preferential treatment for microenterprises and small businesses throughout Brazil. Its principal objective is to foster entrepreneurship, formalisation, economic development and job creation by reducing administrative, fiscal and regulatory burdens on smaller businesses. To achieve this, the Law creates the Simples Nacional, a unified tax collection system that consolidates various federal, state and municipal taxes and contributions into a single simplified regime. It also seeks to improve access to credit, markets, public procurement opportunities, technology, business associations and innovation initiatives, while simplifying business registration, licensing and compliance procedures. The Law further aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of micro and small enterprises through measures relating to labour relations, occupational safety, access to justice, dispute resolution, exports, innovation, public procurement preferences, access to finance and investment, and support for business development. It establishes special provisions for the Microentrepreneur Individual (MEI), promotes business formalisation and social inclusion, encourages technological innovation and start-ups through programmes such as Inova Simples, and facilitates participation in government contracting. The legislation also introduces mechanisms to improve access to credit, stimulate productive investment, support exports, strengthen associative business structures and ensure that public policies consistently favour the development and growth of micro and small enterprises as a strategic component of national economic development.
Brazil · 2006-12-14