Senate Approves Special Retirement for Health Agents, Setting Up Clash With Planalto

Overview

• Senators approved PLP 185/2024 by 57 votes to 0, with two abstentions, creating a national special retirement regime for community health and endemic‑control agents.
• The text grants last‑salary benefits with parity, lowers minimum ages to 52 for men and 50 for women with at least 20 years in the role, extends the rules to pensions, and allows conversion of special time.
• The government warns of significant budget risk, with official estimates ranging from roughly R$24.7 billion over ten years to about R$100 billion, and no funding source identified in the bill.
• Municipalities forecast heavy local strain, as the CNM calculates a municipal impact near R$103 billion and thousands of cities rely on the INSS rather than their own regimes.
• The Planalto plans to recommend a veto and, if Congress overrides it, to seek Supreme Court review, while the proposal proceeds to the Chamber after being scheduled by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre following the Jorge Messias nomination to the STF.