The rapporteur for the 2023 budget predicts R$ 6,8 billion to fund a real increase in the minimum wage.

Rede Brasil Atual (RBA) - The real increase in the minimum wage will be contemplated by the 2023 budget, according to the rapporteur of the proposal, Senator Marcelo Castro (MDB-PI). The parliamentarian released this Monday (12) a spreadsheet with extra amounts to be allocated to ministries next year, incorporating the additional R$ 145 billion authorized in the proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) of the Transition. The measure has already been approved by the Senate and is under analysis this week in the Chamber of Deputies. 

The document foresees that R$ 6,8 billion will be allocated to finance a real increase in the minimum wage. In other words, to guarantee an adjustment above inflation. This is one of the campaign promises of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). According to Senator-elect Wellington Dias (PT-PI), coordinator of the Budget group of the transition team, the new government wants to raise the current minimum wage of R$ 1.212 to R$ 1.320 next year. This is above the 7,41% adjustment projected by the defeated president, Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Since 2020, the minimum wage has been adjusted without a real increase and, in 2023, it would be R$ 1.302, according to the Executive's proposal. 

Castro is still drafting the report, which may be subject to adjustments by the end of the day. As reported by... Rebuildables Earlier, the expectation was that the Transition PEC would be analyzed directly in plenary this Tuesday (13) to be voted on Wednesday (14). Last week the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, confirmed that the Budget for 2023 will be approved by the National Congress this December, before the parliamentary recess.

Social, health and education: the most favored areas.

In addition to the minimum wage increase, the rapporteur's plan also provides for maintaining the Bolsa Família payment of R$ 600 and the additional R$ 150 per child up to six years old. Social programs will receive an extra R$ 75 billion, of which R$ 70 billion will be allocated to the program. The other R$ 5 billion will finance other measures in the area. "The budgetary space created with the approval of the Bolsa Família amendment made it possible to replenish the budget of practically all areas that were in deficit in the budget proposal submitted by the current government," Castro explained to the press.

The rapporteur also foresees the replenishment of resources for the Popular Pharmacy program. In total, an additional R$ 22,7 billion will be allocated to the Ministry of Health. Of this total, R$ 2,109 billion will go to the medication program. This amount is approximately R$ 1 billion more than expected to be spent. Bolsonaro's administration cut funding for the area. to be allocated to the so-called "secret budget." Without the necessary resources, sick and poor people would lose access to 13 types of medication for diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension, among others. 

The Ministry of Education is also expected to receive the third largest budget, with R$ 10,9 billion in extra resources. Another focus of the new government will be on the program. My home, my life which should receive an additional R$ 9,5 billion. The National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) should receive a boost of approximately R$ 11 billion. Similarly, the Ministry of Science and Technology should receive an additional R$ 5 billion. 

The budget rapporteur also estimates R$ 4 billion for Culture and R$ 800 million for Justice and Public Security. This ministry is among the five that have already confirmed the name of their future minister, Senator-elect Flávio Dino (PSB-MA). The Ministry of Defense, which will be headed by José Múcio Monteiro Filho (PTB), is expected to receive more than R$ 1 billion.

(*) With information from newspaper Folha de S. Paulo and the portal G1.

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