Lula wants to boost public service numbers

The Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration is preparing to hire between 16,000 and 18,000 new federal workers this year alone. Management and Innovation Minister Esther Dweck said that 8,000 to 10,000 new public jobs could be opened in the next months, in addition to those already announced, anticipating part of the schedule of next year’s admission exams. 

As political scientist Bruno Carazza recently wrote, Lula is actively trying to reverse the “invisible administrative reform” effectively enacted by the previous Jair Bolsonaro administration. 

Under the leadership of former Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, the government stopped filling public sector vacancies and avoided wage bumps above the inflation rate — enraging civil servants and fueling multiple strikes in 2022. 

Mr. Guedes blamed the pandemic-led recession for his choices. When Mr. Bolsonaro left the presidency at the turn of the year, the federal government had fewer public servants than in 2010, when Lula ended his first two terms as president (580,300 against 565,000).

During Lula’s first two terms in office, Mr. Carazza points out, the number of federal civil servants increased by almost 100,000 — and their wages were raised above inflation.

Ms. Dweck said the president has complained that a lack of workers has prevented the government from getting things done faster. She said that some areas in the government were at risk of a shutdown due to a lack of personnel — especially in environment and social services agencies.

The government will also increase its number of teachers and technicians (5,000) and temporary workers (8,141). Although the exact positions are not defined yet, it is estimated that the new jobs would inflate the government payroll by up to BRL 2 billion (USD 421 million) per year.

Civil servants are hired through competitive entrance exams, and the government must guarantee quotas for socially and racially marginalized citizens.

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