Group led by FPE articulates including themes of Labor Reform and pressures the government for studies on fiscal impact
Parliamentary fronts in Congress are articulating expanding the debate on the end of the 6 x 1 scale to a broader review of labor rules, in addition to reducing working hours. The movement is led by the FPE (Parliamentary Entrepreneurship Front), which seeks to shift the discussion from a specific change in the journey to a type of new labor reform.
The members’ argument is that it is not possible to deal with scale reduction without facing structural obstacles to the current model, such as legal uncertainty and rigidity in work relations. The assessment is that the proposal under debate needs to be accompanied by changes that provide greater predictability for employers and employees.
The strategy is to present amendments to the PEC (Proposed Amendment to the Constitution) that addresses the issue this week. The special committee to analyze the topic must be installed by the mayor, (Republicanos-PB).
Deputies linked to the FPE must also demand, in the special committee and in the plenary, that the president’s government (PT) detail the costs and studies that support the proposal.
Among the points that the group intends to include in the discussion is the constitutionalization of labor reform rules approved by the government. The idea is to provide constitutional guarantees to provisions that are currently in legislation.
Here are the main topics under debate:
- negotiated over the legislated – make the prevalence of agreements between employers and employees over the law constitutional;
- regulatory standards – limit Ministry of Labor rules, requiring prior analysis by the Legislature;
- action of Justice – restrict the publication of labor standards by higher courts.
In addition to its work in Congress, the group intends to increase pressure on Planalto. Congressmen want the government to explain the fiscal impact of the proposal and indicate where the resources will come from to compensate for any changes in the journey.
The FPE seeks support from other fronts linked to the economic agenda to increase political pressure. The assessment is that the topic can gain traction if associated with a broader reform agenda. Ultimately, the goal is not necessarily to approve all of these changes, but to try to delay approval of the measure at least until the elections. There is pressure from the business community against the measure.
On the other hand, no pre-candidate will be directly against the measure. There is fear of the electoral impact that criticism of the reduction in working hours, with the promise of maintaining salaries, could cause.
From May 5th, the debate should incorporate issues related to Social Security. A seminar organized by FPE at the Chamber, scheduled for that date, should mark a new stage in the strategy and include discussions on the impacts of the changes for retirees.
