Brazil's President Signs New Law to Help Small Business Owners
Listen to the story
President Lula signed a new law on Wednesday. The law helps small business owners in Brazil. These owners are called MEI. MEI means a very small, one-person business.
The new law raises the income limit for MEI businesses. Now, a MEI can earn up to 140,000 reais each year. Before, the limit was lower.
The law also lets a MEI have two employees. Before, a MEI could not have workers, or could have only one.
The law gives debt forgiveness too. This means some MEI businesses do not have to pay old debts to the federal government.
Congress approved this law before Lula signed it. Lawmakers call it the "MEI package." The Congress is the group that makes laws in Brazil.
The news also talked about Pix. Pix is a fast payment system in Brazil. If the government gave money to all MEIs equally through Pix, each person would get only 363 reais.
Vocabulary15 words
- MEI
- a very small business with one owner
- income limit
- the most money a business can earn
- employees
- people who work for a business
- debt forgiveness
- not having to pay money you owe
- Congress
- the group of people who make laws
- Pix
- a fast way to send money in Brazil
- sanction (a law)
- to officially approve and sign a law
- federal
- about the whole country, not just one city
- package
- a group of related plans or laws
- business owner
- a person who runs a company
- approve
- to officially say yes to something
- distribution
- giving things out to people
- equal
- the same for everyone
- reais
- the money used in Brazil
- small business
- a company with few workers or little money
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. He signed a law for small businesses 2. MEIs can now have two employees 3. True
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
President Lula signed a new _____ on Wednesday.
The law helps small business owners in Brazil. These owners are called _____.
The new law raises the income _____ for MEI businesses.
Now, a MEI can earn up to _____ reais each year.
The law also lets a MEI have two _____.
The law gives debt _____ too.
_____ approved this law before Lula signed it.
If the government gave money to all MEIs equally through Pix, each person would get only _____ reais.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
