Welfare Reform for Military Would Raise Their Salaries by 75 Percent

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – If approved in full, the reform of the Armed Forces Welfare plan may result in an increase of up to 75 percent in the military’s remuneration. The reason behind this is that the proposal submitted by the government introduces new bonuses that are incorporated into salaries even while not on active duty.

In the case of the qualification bonus, which already exists, the percentage of 30 percent for high studies ‘category I’ would become 73 percent, an increase of 43 percent.

In addition, this military personnel would also be entitled to an extra allowance for military “on-call” status, established by the bill that restructures their careers, in the amount of 32 percent. When added to the qualification bonus it would represent a combined 75 percent salary increase.

In the case of corporals and privates, the increase for these two bonuses would be only 17 percent.

In other words, a colonel who in 2020 would have earned R$11,451 (US$2,870) per month would now be paid a salary of R$20,039.25. On the other hand, a corporal with a salary of R$1,078 would now be paid a total of R$1,261.26 at the end of each month.

Savings reduced with career restructuring

The savings proposed with the military reform is R$97.3 billion in ten years. However, the restructuring of salaries will cost R$86.85 billion, leading to a net fiscal benefit of R$10.45 billion.

The Chamber of Deputies special committee analyzing the text will meet next Tuesday to discuss and vote on the opinion of its rapporteur, Deputy Vinicius Carvalho. Deputies initiated discussions last Wednesday, but there were disagreements over the expected wage adjustment until 2023.

Deputies differ on bonuses percentages

The differences occurred because some deputies advocate that the percentages be the same for all, while the wing most aligned with the government advocates that the original text be maintained, with percentages increasing in line with rank.

After the split in the PSL, President Jair Bolsonaro‘s party, the party leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Delegate Waldir, is said to have agreed with the PSOL party’s proposal to increase the readjustment of remuneration for enlisted servicemembers.

Source: Extra