Imagine working three days and being able to take one day off or selling the day off and getting a higher salary? This is with a paycheck that can be larger than the civil service ceiling and can exceed R$46,000.
This scenario, far from the reality of many Brazilian workers, is the newest paradise for employees of the Chamber and Senate, who had the adjustment approved this Tuesday (3) in a symbolic vote, by acclamation, when there were no votes registered in the panel, and which lasted less than three hours.
The proposals establish the so-called compensatory leave, one day off for every three people worked, with a limit of up to 10 days of rest per month. There is also the possibility of receiving the benefit in cash.
In the Chamber, this applies to functions at the top of the career ladder, while the Senate does not specify who can receive it, which opens up the possibility for all “senior advisor” employees to receive the benefit. The money enters the account cleanly, without paying income tax.
An average salary increase of around 9% for Congress employees was also approved, a bonus that could double salaries, in addition to the creation of new vacancies for federal employees and restructuring of careers.
The matter had a bad impact and caused reactions among deputies and senators.
In an interview with Paula Valdez, on Tarde Band News, the new PT leader in the Senate, Augusta Brito (PT-CE) disconnected the approval from the agendas defended by the government.
“Compensation will still be discussed. This is a specific issue for civil servants and not a defense of the government. It is a question of the organization of independent powers”, he explained.
Deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), deputy leader of the opposition, criticized the project and defended the analysis of issues that are priorities for the population
“It really catches my attention that, in these first weeks of the year, we are only voting on issues aimed at readjusting civil servants, creating new compositions, new positions and priority issues for Brazil, which we are leaving aside”.
Also on Afternoon Band News, the rapporteur of the tax reform in the Chamber, deputy Pedro Paulo (PSD-RJ) harshly criticized the project and pointed out that it needs to be tackled.
“The modernization of careers in the public service is always welcome, but you have to have resources to finance it and you have to respect the limits of the fiscal responsibility law.
The problem with this project is the creation of hangups. What we have been fighting in the text is this 3 to 1 scale. This time off for days worked, without any type of commitment to a goal, or to an increase in productivity, exceeding the constitutional ceiling and producing salaries of almost R$80 thousand.
It is something very serious that goes against what we have been discussing to organize the public service”.
The cost of this package of benefits until 2029 is more than R$190 billion. For FGV economist Mauro Rochlin, the measure only worsens the fiscal balance
“We are talking about the public service elite and this makes us believe that the measure is not exactly something that promotes greater salary equality. It is not just about considering the values involved. We have to consider the example that this represents.
The government seeks to eliminate the so-called primary deficit, even with some unorthodox measures, a lot is outside the so-called fiscal framework and R$5 billion compared to a R$25 billion deficit is no small feat. I would call this measure a bomb agenda.”
The text now goes to President Lula for approval. The president’s assistants defend the veto of the proposal. In this case, Congress could still override the veto for the increase to take effect.
