Port of Santos braces for impact as tax auditors consider indefinite strike

Next week, tax auditors from the Federal Revenue will gather in an assembly to decide on their next course of action in an ongoing mobilization that began in May. Potential options being considered include one-day strikes per week and even an indefinite strike at the Port of Santos and other locations across the country. The auditors are demanding the regulation of Federal Law 13,464/17, which outlines compliance with a salary agreement made with the Federal Government in 2016.

The National Union of Federal Revenue Tax Auditors (Sindifisco) has stated that each day of strike amounts to a loss of US$ 250 million in tax revenue that goes uncollected by the federal government. On June 1, a demonstration was held in front of the Santos Customs Office, attended by 55 out of the 70 civil servants in the area who work in the city.

The agreement signed seven years ago between the Brazilian government and Sindifisco entails the payment of a variable bonus based on productivity, known as an efficiency bonus. Initially, a provisional measure was issued, later converted into Federal Law 13,464/17. However, a presidential decree is required to implement the monthly variable bonus effectively. Currently, federal employees receive a fixed monthly compensation.

Due to the lack of progress in reaching an agreement, auditors began a national protest in December 2021. The movement has impacted the clearance of goods at the Port of Santos, resulting in longer-than-usual processing times for imports and exports. Last year, the auditors suspended their actions as a sign of a “vote of confidence” in the new federal administration. However, as the regulation failed to advance, the lobbying was resumed, according to the auditors.

Elias Carneiro, president of the Santos chapter of Sindifisco, stated that several events are scheduled for the following week, including a national assembly on Monday and Tuesday. During this assembly, it will be determined whether there will be one-day strikes or a large one with no end date starting from June 13. Carneiro noted that the Federal Government has not responded to the situation, saying, “The Ministry of Planning, Budget, and Management was supposed to resolve our issue within 15 days, but 20 days have passed.”

Carneiro explained that the demonstrations are taking place this year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. He added, “The trend is to halt all customs operations in Brazil within ten days. Our estimate is that each day of operation or total strike, where no work is conducted, results in the loss of US$ 250 million in tax revenue for the public coffers in the customs sector.”

In 2022, the Port of Santos handled 162.4 million tons of cargo. Still, due to the mobilization of tax auditors, R$ 250 billion worth of goods experienced a delay of 40 days beyond the average clearance period, as reported by the union. The Ministry of Planning was contacted for comment on the matter but did not respond before this edition’s deadline.

Source: A Tribuna

To read the original news report, see: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/auditores-fiscais-votam-proposta-de-greve-e-decisao-pode-afetar-o-porto-de-santos

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