Panel SA: End of the FGTS anniversary withdrawal divides the opinion of trade unionists

The proposal of the Minister of Labor, Luiz Marinho, to end the FGTS anniversary withdrawal (Guarantee Fund for Temporary Service) divides the union centrals.

João Carlos Gonçalves, Juruna, secretary general of Força Sindical, says that he doesn’t see any complaints from the workers, because the withdrawal is optional. “If he is in need, it is his decision to look for the fund. We know that the yield is well below the financial market. And it is money in circulation in the consumer market, generating production and employment”, says Juruna.

He claims that the central will also offer better income to those who keep the resource in the fund. According to the Ministry of Labor, before the decision is taken, the debate will be taken to the FGTS Board of Trustees and to the trade union centrals.

In the evaluation of minister Luiz Marinho, the FGTS should serve only as a financial reserve for workers and housing finance.

The UGT and the CSB, in turn, say they agree with Marinho’s proposal and that it is necessary to resume blocking access to the FGTS, in addition to discussing a way to improve the return on money.

For Ricardo Patah, from UGT, the withdrawals served the population in the most critical moments of the pandemic, however, their maintenance distorts the purpose of the FGTS.

“Many people have made or are planning loans already backing the amount available in the birthday withdrawal. I defend a transition, it is not possible to end it from one hour to the next. It is necessary to have alternatives for accessing credit for low-income people”, said the union leader.

Antonio Neto, from CSB, suggests that an assessment be made of the impact that withdrawals had on the fund during the release period in recent years. “It’s not just a withdrawal issue, but also the fund’s remuneration, which is deteriorating because of the TR [taxa referencial]. This needs to be debated,” she said.

CUT did not comment on the matter.

Joana Cunha with Paulo Ricardo Martins and Diego Felix