Senate Sets Vote on Special Pensions for Health Agents as Government Threatens Veto and Court Fight

Overview

• Senators are slated to decide today on PLP 185/2024, which creates a national special-retirement regime for community health and endemic-disease agents covering roughly 366,000 to 400,000 workers.
• The proposal restores full-salary benefits with parity, lowers minimum retirement ages to 52 for men and 50 for women with 20 years in the role, allows conversion of special time, and ensures full pensions.
• Fiscal impact estimates diverge: preliminary Social Security modeling indicates about R$24.7 billion over ten years, other analyses cite roughly R$40 billion, a new ministry note warns of impacts near R$100 billion across governments, and the CNM projects R$103 billion for municipalities.
• Acting finance chief Dario Durigan says the Planalto will recommend a veto and, if Congress overturns it, take the case to the Supreme Court to enforce fiscal rules.
• The vote follows Davi Alcolumbre placing the bill on the agenda after Lula nominated Jorge Messias to the Supreme Court, and if approved the measure still faces further congressional processing and a likely veto clash.