Rural cooperatives now have special security guaranteed

The legislation that extends the status of special insured to members of cooperatives linked to rural activities is in force. According to Law 15.072/24, published in the Official Gazette of the Union on December 27, rural work can be carried out individually or as part of a family economy, and membership in a cooperative does not change the status of special insured, which is granted to workers who carry out their activities mainly in the countryside.

Sanctioned on December 26 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the law originated in PL 1754/24, a replacement from the Chamber of Deputies for PL 580/07, from the Federal Senate.

A section of the rule that allowed association or the exercise of paid activity in any type of cooperative was vetoed. According to the veto message from the Executive Branch, the measure would subvert the figure of the special insured, “as established by social security legislation, with a potential increase in public spending of a continuous nature with social security benefits”.

With the new law, members of the administration, the fiscal council and other bodies of cooperatives, of all types, will also be considered special insured parties.

Another source of income

Family members who have another source of income will not be included in the special security scheme, nor will members of work cooperatives. These organizations are made up of professionals with common interests, and the members work independently. One of the objectives of the model is to improve the remuneration and working conditions of its members.

According to the new legislation, cooperatives must operate in a manner that is linked to rural activities and categories covered by the special insured regime. This is the case of cooperatives of rural producers, rubber tappers, plant extractors, artisanal fishermen and their families who carry out activities under the family economy regime.