TCU approves salary increase of one third for its ministers

Last Wednesday (29), the Federal Audit Court (TCU) extended a benefit that allows for an increase of around a third in the monthly remuneration of TCU ministers. However, payment of the benefit was temporarily suspended following a request from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The decision was taken based on the Federal Constitution, which provides that the Court of Auditors has equal prerogatives and rights with the Superior Court of Justice (STJ).

On November 8, the STJ authorized the creation of the benefit based on a resolution approved by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) on October 17 – the first session chaired by Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

The resolution caused a cascade effect, leading several categories to seek an increase of one third, such as the Labor Court, and paved the way for the creation of several privileges for magistrates across the country. It provides for the equality of rights and duties of judges with those of members of the Public Ministry.

In the resolution approved by the STJ, judges are allowed to receive a bonus for accumulating duties when accumulating additional administrative or procedural activities. Alternatively, judges can opt for proportional payment without hitting the salary cap for prosecutors and prosecutors. The resolution also lists the role of ministers on councils, permanent or temporary commissions and working groups.

Although the TCU is not part of the Judiciary, there is a constitutional comparison of rights. The court is an external control body of the federal government that helps the National Congress monitor the country’s budget execution.

The increase for TCU ministers ended up being suspended, following the Public Ministry’s request presented by Deputy Attorney General Lucas Rocha Furtado. He raised doubts about the legality of a similar backlog compensation payment to federal and labor judges.

The suspension must last until the plenary analyzes the legality of the benefit increase. The rapporteur of the process is Minister Antonio Anastasia.