The collection of entities that had agreements with the INSS (National Institute of Social Security) to carry out direct discounts on retirement and pensions has fired in the last two years, growing 253% between 2022 and 2024, according to an audit of the CGU (Comptroller General of the Union). The amount collected by these entities increased from R $ 702 million in 2022, last year of the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), to R $ 2.5 billion in 2024, already under the management of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
CGU data reveal that 11 of the 31 entities that had agreements with the INSS concentrated 84.6% of the discounted values. Together, these entities raised R $ 1.1 billion in 2023, a total of R $ 1.3 billion. Among the collection leaders are Contag (National Confederation of Agriculture Workers) and Sindnapi (National Union of Retirees, Pensioners and Elderly).
Contag, which had had agreements since 2016, saw its revenue jump from R $ 339.9 million in 2016 to R $ 451 million in 2024. Sindnapi, which has a brother of President Lula as vice president, went from R $ 17.8 million in 2016 to R $ 104.1 million in 2024.
Expansion in the Lula government and new benefited entities
Three of the entities that raised the most with discounts on retirement began to act only in the third Lula administration: CBPA (Brazilian Confederation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Workers), Masterprev and APDAP PREV. CBPA raised R $ 57.9 million in 2023 and R $ 164.7 million in 2024, while APDAP PREV jumped from R $ 41.8 million in 2023 to R $ 87.6 million in 2024. Masterprev, which did not collect anything by 2023, had projection of R $ 99 million in 2024.
The CGU audit revealed that, in addition to the significant increase in the amounts collected, there was also a growth in the requests for exclusion of discounts and insured complaints, which reported not having authorized the charges. The report was referred to the INSS with recommendations to immediately suspend discounts of eight entities, including CBPA, Contag, Sindnapi and Masterprev. However, these recommendations were ignored by the body’s direction in 2023.
Operation without discount and suspension of agreements
Following the outbreak of the operation without discount, the Federal Police, all agreements between the INSS and the entities were suspended. The operation revealed one and the automatic discount of values in the benefits, without consent of the insured. As a consequence, the government has announced that it will and seek the blockade of assets of the associations involved, in which indications of bribe payment and use of facade companies were identified.
Continues after advertising
In addition, the government dismissed the then president of the INSS, Alessandro Stefanutto, and four other leaders of the municipality. The 31 cooperation agreements with the entities were canceled and a complete review of payroll discount procedures has started.
