Chamber Security Committee Approves FGTS Withdrawals for Firearm Purchases

Overview

• Brazil’s Public Security Committee approved the bill on Tuesday in about one minute without debate, sending it to the Finance and Taxation, Work, and Constitution and Justice panels under a conclusive process that could bypass the plenary unless lawmakers file an appeal.
• The proposal would let workers withdraw money once a year on their birthday to pay only for a firearm, a yearly allotment of ammunition, and essential items for safe storage.
• To access the funds, the worker must present a valid purchase authorization and proof of standing in federal gun registries such as Sinarm or Sigma, which track legal firearms in Brazil.
• The text assigns the FGTS Curator Council up to 90 days to issue operating rules if enacted, and the rapporteur says the measure does not change Brazil’s Disarmament Statute and only creates a financing route for those who already qualify.
• Construction industry leaders, including the head of CBIC, oppose the change and say diverting the FGTS—long used to protect workers in layoffs and to fund housing—could weaken resources for home finance programs.