# Brazil Bill Proposes Free Parking for Mall Employees

Proposed legislation aims to eliminate parking fees for workers in commercial centers during shifts.

- **Source:** [Poder360](https://www.poder360.com.br)
- **Published:** 2026-11-08
- **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics)
- **Original article:** <https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-congresso/projeto-proibe-cobrar-estacionamento-de-funcionarios-em-centros/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5e7204e5-e2f2-4c4d-a06c-059e7ed59289

## Legislative Proposal Overview

Bill 3.518 of 2026, currently under review in the Chamber of Deputies, seeks to mandate free parking for employees at malls and commercial centers. The proposal covers the entire duration of the workday, including entry and exit times, aiming to prevent parking fees from eroding the wages of service workers.

## Scope of Beneficiaries

The proposed gratuity applies to a broad spectrum of personnel, including store employees, administrative staff, and outsourced workers. Temporary staff, apprentices, and interns are also included in the mandate. This ensures that all individuals providing services at these commercial locations are protected from parking-related costs during their professional shifts.

## Prohibited Charging Mechanisms

The bill explicitly bans various forms of parking charges, including daily rates, monthly fees, and accreditation taxes. Furthermore, it prohibits deducting parking costs directly from payroll or access cards. These measures are designed to eliminate hidden financial burdens that currently impact workers simply for arriving at their designated places of employment.

## Operational Constraints

The legislation does not require commercial centers to create additional parking spaces. It also maintains existing priorities for elderly, disabled, and pregnant individuals, as well as loading zones. Management retains the right to implement internal security and identification protocols for the exemption, provided these rules do not obstruct the workers' rights.

## Enforcement and Penalties

Failure to comply with these new regulations will expose violators to civil, administrative, and labor sanctions. Additionally, the bill mandates the reimbursement of any improperly collected funds to the affected workers, adjusted for monetary inflation. This ensures that the financial protection of the employee remains a priority for the commercial establishment.

## Legislative Review Process

The bill is currently being analyzed in a conclusive manner by three specific committees: Industry, Commerce and Services; Labor; and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship. To become law, the proposal must secure approval from both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, reflecting the standard legislative path for such national policies.

## Rationale Behind Proposal

Former deputy Jorge Araújo, the author of the proposal, argues that it is unreasonable for workers to see their earnings reduced by parking fees. By linking the cost to the simple act of attending work, the bill seeks to address a perceived economic injustice faced by retail and service sector employees.

## Broader Policy Context

This initiative highlights ongoing debates regarding labor rights and the costs associated with employment in Brazil. By standardizing parking access, the government aims to harmonize workplace conditions across commercial sectors. Observers will monitor how these committees balance the operational autonomy of mall administrations against the proposed mandate for worker benefits.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-congresso/projeto-proibe-cobrar-estacionamento-de-funcionarios-em-centros/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
