Health officials say there is a risk of an epidemic in Belo Horizonte.

Mines 247 – The Endemic Disease Control Agents (ACE) and Community Health Agents (ACS) of the Belo Horizonte City Hall (PBH) decided, this Friday (6), to maintain the strike that has already lasted for 33 days. After the decision, hundreds of employees marched to the door of the municipal executive, and warned of the possibility of an epidemic of dengue or chikungunya fever due to the lack of pest control.

The category demands compliance with Federal Law 12994/14, which establishes the National Minimum Wage for the category and the mandatory implementation of a Job, Career and Salary Plan (PCCS). The established minimum wage is R$ 1.014,00 due to a law sanctioned in June of last year. The agents are requesting retroactive payment of the amount stipulated by the sanctioned law, and inclusion in the Health PCCS.

According to a statement from the Union of Municipal Public Servants of Belo Horizonte (Sindibel), the PBH (Belo Horizonte City Hall) is not negotiating with the category, even though the activities of the ACE/ACS (Community Health Agents/Community Health Workers) have been interrupted for more than a month.

"The city hall did not present a counter-proposal that meets the demands of the category. Essential services for the health of the municipality's population, such as combating dengue fever and chikungunya, registration for the Bolsa Família program, the SUS card, among other important actions linked to the Family Health Program (PSF), are interrupted," the text said.

The city government claims it cannot pay the requested amount and needs a larger injection of funds from the federal government.