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See the recent updates on the proposal approved by the Chamber of Deputies on October 4. On October 4, a Wednesday, the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill addressing the creation of the program to tackle the waiting list of the National Social Security Institute (INSS).
The document therefore proposes the payment of a bonus to employees in order to increase the volume of appointments and expedite the review of documents.
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The proposal received the green light despite facing resistance from the opposition and the rural caucus. In other words, both sought to delay discussion of the matter in Congress due to recent decisions by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
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The next step, then, is to send the proposal to the Federal Senate for analysis.
What is the content of the proposal regarding the INSS waiting list?
To implement the program aimed at reducing the INSS waiting list, the Federal Government needs an investment of approximately R$ 130 million.
Another issue addressed is the regulation of telemedicine in Social Security. Thus, it will serve as a resource to facilitate the submission of the documents required for benefit and insurance applications.
In addition, the proposal includes:
- Salary increase for military police officers and firefighters in the Federal District;
- Establishment of a quota system for Indigenous people in civil service examinations for the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai).
During the deliberation, Representative Erika Kokay expressed support for the proposal and dissatisfaction with the INSS waiting list. According to the parliamentarian, the current situation is the result of actions by the previous government.
Erika also emphasized the importance of granting a salary adjustment to the Federal District security forces as a form of recognition.
On the other hand, Representative Carlos Jordy described the proposal as a “varied mix,” since it covers different topics in a single document.
“This is a project that, while attempting to solve one issue [the INSS waiting list], introduces other challenges,” the representative pointed out.
History of the proposal among lawmakers
The government has already submitted this issue to the National Congress on another occasion.
However, at that time, the proposal came in the form of a Provisional Measure (MP) – with immediate effect, but requiring parliamentary approval within four months to become law.
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However, after insistence from the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, the government chose to resubmit the matter as a bill. Lira has been asking the Executive Branch to reduce its use of MPs, given the intense debate over this legislative mechanism in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
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The reason is that the Constitution provides for provisional measures to pass through a joint committee of deputies and senators.
However, amid social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, MPs began to be debated directly in plenary, first in the Chamber of Deputies and then in the Senate.
In this scenario, Lira wishes to maintain this methodology, but faces resistance from Rodrigo Pacheco, president of the Senate.
Bonus for INSS employees
The INSS queue reduction program proposes paying bonuses to civil servants and medical examiners.
The intention is to speed up the evaluation and processing of:
- Cases awaiting action for more than 45 days;
- Medical evaluations stalled for more than 30 days.
The bonus for those who work beyond regular hours will follow a table linking the completion of processes or services:
- R$ 68 per service to reduce the INSS queue;
- R$ 75 per federal medical evaluation.
According to the bill, approximately 46 thousand medical and dental procedures are awaiting completion in Social Security.
According to the Minister of Social Security, Carlos Lupi, the INSS has approximately 1.65 million benefit requests
pending. He also mentioned that, in January, approximately 1.8 million requests were identified.
Lupi believes that, with the approval of this bill, all requests are expected to meet the maximum legal deadline of 45 days by the end of the year.
Lupi also highlighted the increase in requests for new insurance and benefits at the agency. He mentioned that, in August, the INSS received approximately 1 million requests.
Pay raise for DF security forces
The bill approved by the Chamber provides for an 18% salary increase for police officers and firefighters in the Federal District.
In addition, it proposes changes to positions at Funai, highlighting the creation of a quota of 10% to 30% for Indigenous people in upcoming civil service examinations.
The project also extends the deadline for temporary hiring for Indigenous health and environmental protection initiatives to four years, which may be extended, but not exceeding five years in total.
The text also preserves a clause that has been criticized, which stipulates that workers in Indigenous lands have only half of the days worked as rest.
The Senate will now assess the bill. If the senators approve it, it will proceed to presidential sanction or veto. After all legislative stages are completed, the new regulation will enter into force, with the expectation of reducing the INSS waiting list.
