New proposal for Portus expected to be defined in August, says federation president

The technical group tasked with studying a new proposal for Portus - the Supplementary Social Security Institute for dock company employees - is expected to reach a decision by mid-August. Beneficiaries have rejected the initial offer and are seeking inflation adjustments for the period, resumption of 13th salary and pecuniary payments, and an end to the additional 18.47% charge on pensions.

In an interview with A Tribuna , the president of the National Federation of Port Workers (FNP), Sérgio Giannetto, stated that the technical group, formed to study and present the proposal, has a deadline of 20 calendar days from the last virtual meeting convened by the Federal Administration Conciliation Chamber (CCAF), held on the 12th.

In addition to Giannetto, participants included members of the National Superintendence of Complementary Pensions (Previc), associations of Portus participants, port worker unions, as well as Portus' intervenor, Luis Gustavo da Cunha Barbosa, and the Attorney General of the Union (AGU), Jarbas dos Reis.

According to Giannetto, the proposal presented by the sponsors (dock companies), mediated by CCAF, to beneficiaries includes a benefit increase of 12.85% retroactive to March 2024 and the reinstatement of pecuniary payments and 13th salary starting next year.

However, FNP's president affirmed expectations for an improved adjustment, "which is well below inflation" for the period, and the elimination of the extraordinary contribution deducted from pensions.

"We have already spoken with Portus and Previc and stated that this proposal falls far short and will not pass the assembly. Therefore, a study group was formed with technical personnel from Portus and FNP who are working to improve this proposal", commented Giannetto.

Participants aim to resume suspended benefits from 2020, including the 13th salary, to restore the pension fund's financial balance.

Legal issues

However, the Portus dispute involves several lawsuits, some concluded with no further appeal (res judicata), and others ongoing.

As investigated, the amounts owed could reach R\$ 8 billion. Among the lawsuits, there are two filed by Portus against the Port Authority of Santos (APS), proceeding in the 8th and 23rd Federal Courts, currently under expert review.

Meanwhile, lawsuits in the execution phase of the sentence involve approximately R\$ 5 billion. Notably, the Portobras lawsuit, where a favorable ruling to Portus involves a payment of R\$ 1.2 billion, is not included.

The report reached out to Previc again for updates on the ongoing proposal discussions but received no response by the time of publication.

Background

The Portus Social Security Institute is a closed entity established in 1979 by the now-extinct Portobras, which then managed Brazilian ports. Portus was created to provide dock workers with supplemental pension benefits. Of its 10,000 beneficiaries, 4,700 are in Baixada Santista. Portus' problems began in 1990 with Portobras' dissolution. Since August 2011, the institute has been under federal intervention.