MEC fires employees who accused secretary of moral harassment – 02/27/2024 – Panel

Three employees of the Secretariat of Continuing Education (Secadi) of the Ministry of Education were fired last Wednesday (21) by the head of the area, Maria do Rosário Tripodi, amid complaints against her for moral harassment with the Public Ministry of Labor.

The director of Special Education in the Perspective of Inclusive Education, Décio Guimarães, the area coordinator, Eniceia Mendes, and the head of projects, Fernanda Cardoso, were dismissed by Tripodi.

Guimarães gave a statement to the MPT on Tuesday (20), the day before he was notified of his dismissal, while Mendes and Cardoso spoke to the investigation on the day of his dismissal.

In October last year, Guimarães, who is blind, filed a complaint of moral harassment and ableism against the secretary to the National Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office.

The case was forwarded to the Regional Labor Attorney’s Office of the 10th Region, in Brasília and, last Thursday (22), transformed into a civil investigation. There are also ongoing procedures at the CGU (Comptroller General of the Union) and the Federal Public Ministry.

The complaint is processed confidentially. The Panel found that several episodes were cited in which the secretary allegedly mistreated her subordinates. The three dismissed are certified professors at federal educational institutions and were assigned to the MEC.

The accusations include insults and questions aimed in a harsh tone at the servers’ work capacity.

The fact that the dismissal occurred close to the testimonies and the opening date of the investigation is seen as a possible retaliation on the part of the secretary.

Prosecutor Geny Helena Fernandes, who is handling the case, says that the investigation is still in the initial phase and that the accused will be heard. There is no deadline for completion, although she predicts a quick outcome.

“What we seek is to correct the situation, including the general work environment as a whole. Knowing what is being done to prevent moral harassment, with courses, prevention programs, internal communication channels and other measures”, he states . Indications of retaliation will be taken into account, she adds.

Other side

In a statement, the Department of Continuing Education, Youth and Adult Literacy, Diversity and Inclusion (Secadi) says that it was never summoned or notified in the aforementioned investigation, nor is it aware of its content.

The body says that it “vehemently repudiates the attempt to impute any conduct that is contrary to the very nature of the secretariat, whose central agenda is equity in guaranteeing the right to education for people with disabilities, indigenous people, quilombolas, rural populations and other groups historically minorized and marginalized”.

“The commissioned positions are freely appointed and the dismissal of the mentioned professionals meets Secadi’s discretionary decision, with the aim of adjusting the management and implementation of the special education policy from the perspective of inclusive education”, he states.

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