This article was written based on a conversation with one of the 15,000+ experts in the Trust Insight network.
On March 12, 2025, the Brazilian federal government implemented one of the most significant transformations in the credit market in recent years with the launch of the “Crédito do Trabalhador” (Worker’s Credit) program. To understand the technical and strategic details of this initiative, we spoke with an experienced professional in information technology and data and digital systems management for social programs. With nearly 15 years of experience in the sector, our interviewee has accumulated extensive knowledge in the development of critical government systems, including the technical management of products such as eConsignado.
The new program — popularly known as private payroll-deductible credit (for CLT workers) — uniquely integrates the Digital Work Card, the Digital FGTS, and eSocial, marking a milestone in democratizing access to credit for Brazil’s 47 million formal workers.
“The biggest challenge,” explains the expert, “was designing an architecture capable of processing a massive volume of operations without compromising data security — something only possible thanks to our accumulated experience with systems such as eConsignado.”
Key figures of the program:
47 million formal workers potentially eligible
2.2 million domestic workers and 4 million rural workers included
19 million projected contracts over four years
R$ 120 billion in expected total movement
Up to 50% potential reduction in interest rates
Payroll margin: up to 10% of FGTS balance + 100% of termination fine
The expert highlights that the adopted model differs significantly from the previous one, in which each financial institution had to establish individual agreements with companies.
“Today, with direct integration through the Digital Work Card, we’ve eliminated the asymmetries that favored large employers and neglected smaller companies,” he explains.
The new framework — allowing up to 10% of the FGTS balance as collateral — was developed based on expertise from the INSS payroll credit system but with major technical adaptations for the private sector.
Regarding implementation challenges, the professional comments:
“We processed 72 million simulations and 11 million proposals in the first few months — numbers that required not only a robust infrastructure but also agile mechanisms for version control and updates — capabilities we’ve refined over the years with similar systems, such as the payroll loan platform for INSS retirees and pensioners.”
Macroeconomic and sector implications
The macroeconomic implications of this program are profound. The injection of affordable credit should stimulate household consumption — a traditional driver of the Brazilian economy — while providing an alternative for renegotiating high-interest debt.
“However,” warns the expert, “experience with other government systems teaches us that it’s crucial to monitor how these resources are allocated to ensure their productive use.”
For the financial sector, Crédito do Trabalhador represents a structural transformation.
“As with eConsignado, we’re witnessing a redefinition of the rules of the game,” the professional analyzes.
The predictability of payroll deductions and FGTS-backed guarantees reduce risks, while greater transparency compresses margins and demands new pricing models — challenges that financial institutions will need to face swiftly in the coming years.
Naturally, there’s an ongoing public debate about the potential for increased household indebtedness among Brazilian workers. Such a robust credit infrastructure, with easy access via apps and smartphones, is not trivial — it is a phenomenon worthy of close study.
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