Unions push to preserve hiring exclusivity in ports bill

Union leaders defended on Wednesday (22) the preservation of the exclusivity of casual port workers in Bill 733/2025, which revises the port legal framework. The labor issue is considered the most sensitive point of the text and has generated disagreements among unions and federations in the sector. The session, titled “Labor force from the perspective of employees”, was marked by protests.

The bill proposes ending the exclusivity in hiring professionals registered with the Labor Management Body (Ogmo), replacing it with a recruitment priority. It also provides for the creation of service-providing companies, allowing the hiring of workers not registered with Ogmo—a measure that, according to unions, could trigger mass unemployment.

The matter is far from consensus. Some unions also oppose the agreement reached in September between three federations of casual workers and the National Federation of Port Operations (Fenop). The agreement produced a substitute draft for the labor chapter of Bill 733.

In addition to Fenop, the agreement is signed by the National Federation of Port Workers (FNP), the National Federation of Dockworkers (FNE), and the National Federation of Cargo and Unloading Checkers and Repairmen, Port Watchmen, Block Workers, Stowers and Moorers (Fenccovib).

The president of the Dockworkers’ Union of Santos, São Vicente, Guarujá, and Cubatão (Sindestiva), Bruno Santos, said that the base will not accept the end of exclusivity: “A law must be progressive, without stripping rights from some to benefit others. Workers, the public quay, and agribusiness must be heard,” he said.

The president of the Port Workers’ Union (Sintraport), Claudiomiro Machado, also rejected both the bill and the agreement: “Anyone who has read the bill knows it is far worse than any negotiated deal.”

Fenccovib president Mário Teixeira defended maintaining Law 12,815/2013, with the agreement included in Chapter 6: “The problem with having another law is that it revokes the current one.”

José Adilson Pereira, president of the FNE, stated that the agreement with Fenop safeguards the workforce by expanding recruitment and ensuring a standardized methodology for calculating salaries and severance payments. The FNP president, Sérgio Giannetto, said assemblies were held in all bases and called for respect for the agreement.

Among lawmakers, Deputy Leônidas Cristino (PDT-CE) stressed that “there is no agreement without including the workers”.

The vice-chair of the committee, Paulo Alexandre Barbosa (PSDB-SP), noted that “no one is obliged to include the agreement in the final report”.

Deputy Rosana Valle (PL-SP) reinforced that “workers must have their jobs guaranteed, and the more senior workers must retain exclusive access to the work”.

Committee chair Murillo Galdino (Republicanos-PB) said the goal is “to approve measures that protect port workers”. The rapporteur, Arthur Maia (União-BA), suggested seeking broader consensus among all parties.

Hunger strike ends

Santos dockworker Marcelo Artur de Carvalho, aged 54, ended a three-day hunger strike in front of the Chamber of Deputies in protest against Bill 733/2025. He said he began eating again after receiving assurances that the bill would not be put to a vote before the end of the year. “I’m in a hotel room after three days sleeping on the floor. Tomorrow I go home and will be reunited with my wife and daughters,” he said, visibly moved.

Deputy Glauber Braga (PSOL-RJ) asked whether the committee would conclude its work this year. Committee chair Murillo Galdino replied that the last session will take place on 10 December, but that there is not enough time remaining, so proceedings should continue in 2026.

Source: A Tribuna

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