Prepared by the Regulatory Committee, the document provides extremely important insights for the country, given the Association's purpose in contributing to the construction of a Digital, Less Unequal Brazil
The Brazilian Association of Software Companies (ABES), whose purpose is to build a more digital and less unequal Brazil, works to ensure a business environment conducive to innovation, ethical, dynamic, sustainable and globally competitive. In support of its commitment to transparency, ABES publishes its Regulatory Agenda for the year 2024, which was prepared by the Regulatory Committee, with the support of other committees and working groups, the entity's board and council, and researchers from the ABES Think Tank.
The document presents the entity's main recommendations for public policies in areas of utmost importance for the country. “We believe that there is still a lot of potential for the growth of the technology sector in Brazil. We are convinced of both the need for a conducive and balanced legislative and regulatory environment, as well as the existence of a set of robust public policies that allow organizations in our sector to continue innovating and, consequently, driving Brazil's digital transformation”, declares Paulo Milliet Roque , president of ABES.
For ABES, which also acts as a partner of major technological hubs, incubators and accelerators in the country, thus strengthening the Brazilian innovation ecosystem, the State must act as an inducer of innovation and promoter of citizenship in the Digital Era, duly guided by a Project of Nation. “Whether through public policies, regulations, or public procurement policies of the state apparatus, the Brazilian government must encourage responsible and inclusive innovation, promote the development of vibrant innovative ecosystems and, thus, stimulate the creation and expansion of local expertise and critical mass that are so crucial for the country’s economic and social development”, reinforces the entity’s president.
Check out the topics covered by ABES in the 2024 Regulatory Agenda and a summary of the Association's positions:
- Public purchases
ABES seeks to present proposals for modernization, simplification, transparency and greater legal security in the public procurement environment, based on the association's dialogue with the Executive and Legislative powers.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
ABES defends the adoption of broad public policies for the safe and inclusive promotion of artificial intelligence. We participate extensively in the regulatory debate in the country and we believe that a broad national discussion is still necessary to mature the position of Brazilian society on the possible regulation of AI.
- Taxation
Exemption from Folha: The government's proposal to reburden the 17 sectors, after a broad democratic discussion by Congress, could put the competitiveness of these sectors at risk, and jeopardize more than 500 thousand jobs, in addition to encouraging informality. The exemption is not a tax waiver, but rather the option for a company to collect the employer's social contribution based on revenue, or on the value of the payroll.
Tax Reform: ABES advocates a broad discussion on the topic, with the aim of seeking solutions capable of providing simplification and legal security, benefiting both companies and the public authorities themselves and society in general.
- Privacy and protection of personal data
It is essential to ensure that companies and government bodies comply with the LGPD in order to protect citizens' privacy. ABES defends the full independence of the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) and legal security in international transfers of personal data, based on mechanisms that are interoperable with those already adopted in other jurisdictions, as well as regulations applicable to small agents that are reasonable and that consider their specific characteristics.
- Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a topic that cuts across all socioeconomic sectors. Therefore, ABES understands that it is a priority to foster a safer digital environment that guarantees a successful digital transformation process.
- Labor relations, qualification and inclusion with a focus on digital skills
ABES defends public policies that enable an increase in qualified professionals to fill existing vacancies, in order to reduce the sector's deficit – with incentives for labor inclusion, we can reduce levels of inequality. Among the measures are the expansion of training programs in IT-related skills, the non-burdening of employment, the expansion of the debate on quotas for people with disabilities (PwD), the possibility of remote or hybrid work modalities with legal security and attention to the practices of irregular hiring of Brazilian professionals in the national territory by companies that operate outside the country.
- Responsible and neutral use of internet access
ABES advocates regulation that is flexible enough to adapt to new technologies and business models, while protecting public interests and promoting a fair and safe market environment. Only then can we reap the benefits of digital platforms while mitigating the risks associated with them.
- Environment and legal security for the development of startups and entrepreneurship
ABES believes that the State must create an environment favorable to innovation, through support for startups, technological research and talent training. This requires investments in research in addition to development and partnerships between the public and private sectors. And it defends a favorable environment that offers legal security for the development of startups and entrepreneurship, with the inclusion of labor and tax areas; including encouraging the hiring of innovative solutions by public authorities based on LC 182/21 and allowing innovative entrepreneurship.
- e-Social
Working in close collaboration with the government and its associates, ABES supports government initiatives towards the digitalization of procedures, reduction of bureaucracy and promotion of interoperability between different systems managed by the government, contributing to the correct interpretation and positioning of standards that impact products and services linked to the technology sector.
- Think Tank ABES
The impact of research on the country's technological and economic development is clear, enabling the emergence of new technologies, improvement of systems and innovations that fuel national growth and competitiveness, in addition to elucidating complex phenomena and proposing solutions to social challenges, such as inequality and social exclusion. With Think Tank, ABES seeks to communicate advances and discoveries to society through the publication of articles in open media and periodic reports, educating the public on crucial topics, promoting reasoned discussions and playing a decisive role in democracy.
Published since 2022, the ABES Regulatory Agenda It is a dynamic document that is periodically renewed as recurring themes are updated, or new themes are included in the list of recommendations. The document can be downloaded from this link.
EN 
PT 
