Only 1% of Brazil’s port workers have so far contracted COVID-19

According to the national secretary of Ports and Water Transport, Diogo Piloni, from a universe of 50,000 port workers, only 1% (about 500 professionals) were diagnosed with Covid-19. The information was broadcast on June 4 at Live Chat in Motion, organized by Intermodal South America. “We consider that the number is under control when we consider that this universe is made up of people that end up being more exposed to risk,” he said.

Piloni spoke, among other topics, about the modification of the Port Workers’ Provisional Measure, which guarantees financial coverage for workers on leave because they are at risk. In total, between 15% and 20% of the workers were told to stay away but were given a salary guarantee by the Labor-Management Bodies (OGMOs). In addition, he stressed the fact that the measure ensures that agglomerations at ports are avoided. “I saw large numbers of workers gathered and was concerned. We brought in digital methods of managing the rota system which have been a success. The workers themselves recognize the importance of this,” he said.

The secretary also affirmed that, even during the pandemic, the sector’s concession schedules are still in progress, with the recent publication of notices for auctions of pulp terminals in the Port of Santos (SP) for example, in addition to the privatization schedule and contracts signed for the implementation of new Private Use Terminals (TUPs).

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