Nursing category promoted protests throughout Brazil for the implementation of the Minimum Wage Law| Photo: Cofen

The measure that releases BRL 7.3 billion from public coffers to the Ministry of Health was published this Friday (12), in the Official Gazette. The amount will be used to pay the base salary of BRL 4,750 for nurses, BRL 3,325 for nursing technicians and BRL 2,375 for nursing assistants and midwives.

The National Congress approved the release of the budget on April 26, but the matter faced strong resistance from the private sector. According to the government, the expenditure is foreseen in the 2023 Budget and the expense to fulfill it will not break the spending ceiling.

The text directs resources from the financial surplus of public funds and the Social Fund to finance the nursing floor in the state sector, in philanthropic entities and service providers, with a minimum of 60% of attendances for SUS patients (Sistema Único de Saúde ).

Law No. 14,434, approved by the National Congress last year, determined the value of the national minimum wage for nurses. However, the floor was suspended in September last year by Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). In the decision, Barroso pointed out the risks of layoffs in the sector and a possible reduction in the quality of health services in the country.