Just 1% of Brazilians received more than the public sector salary cap in 2022, according to a survey by Center for Public Leadership (CLP), carried out based on the analysis of data from the Federal Revenue Service.
The report points out that, in practice, the data would fit the contingent of employees who received amounts close to the ceiling in the stratum of richest people in Brazilian society.
Tadeu Barros, CEO of the CLP, told CNN that the entity’s studies indicate that the impact of “super salaries” on public accounts is R$5 billion per year.
“The amount is three times greater, for example, than the federal government’s budget to finance the risk and disaster management program this year (R$ 1.7 billion). The amount spent on super salaries could be invested in public services in priority areas for the population, such as health, education and basic sanitation”, pointed out Barros.
From 2013 until now, the ceiling rose from R$28,059.29 to R$46,366.19. Despite moments of greater control over the growth of the figure – during the 2015 recession and the pandemic -, the CLP report highlights that “the general trend was a robust increase in maximum remuneration values in the public sector, at certain times even above of accumulated inflation”.
Therefore, in addition to the ceiling including some employees among the richest 1% in the country, the CLP points out that the amount received is almost three times greater than the average gross taxable income of the richest 5%.
“Even with fluctuations in purchasing power, the civil service ceiling remains at a level significantly higher than the average income of the largest taxpayers, reinforcing its privileged nature in terms of income in the country”, indicates the report.
The research also highlights the fact that, despite the limit provided by law, a number of civil servants end up receiving even more than the ceiling value.
Compensation payments, supplementary funds and occasional advantages end up not being counted within the constitutional ceiling; and these aids – such as housing – are exempt from Income Tax (IR).
Through an e , the government seeks to reformulate the rules for civil service earnings and .
However, the Chamber of Deputies authorized that until Congress approves an ordinary law to regulate the issue.
“The CLP believes that there is political will to advance the agenda, since the Chamber of Deputies approved the project and the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services has positioned itself in favor of this issue”, asked Tadeu Barros to CNN.
“It is up to the Senate to take the next step and move forward with this fundamental agenda for the country. Especially because the discussion of ending super salaries is positive, fair and respects the Constitution”, he concluded.
