Dissecting Bolsonaro’s proposal to reform Brazil’s public service

Late last week, the Brazilian government presented its plan to reform Brazil’s civil service. And while it left much to be desired — as it doesn’t affect current servants and keeps intact most of the privileges granted to Congress and judges — the plan could potentially change public service in Brazil, not only at the federal level, but also for states and municipalities. And if passed it would grant more powers to the president.

As our November 18, 2019 Weekly Report showed, Brazil spends nearly 10 percent of its GDP on the salaries of public servants, the 15th-most among the 142 countries analyzed by the World Bank. A reform has been talked about for decades, and now it is finally set to be debated in Congress. But will it pass? And, more importantly, if it does, which elements will be preserved?

The Brazilian Report today launches a special series on the reform, explaining its main points, how hard it will be to approve it in Congress, and the impacts on many industries that depend on the current structure of the Brazilian state. Read Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. You can also download an eBook including all four parts at the end of this article.

In this first installment, we highlight the key points of the reform presented by President Jair Bolsonaro.

Part 1: What you need to know about the government’s administrative reform

The administration was expected to present its reform late last year, but President Jair Bolsonaro decided against it, due to fears that the strong civil servant lobby would launch militant protest actions similar...