complaints
Complaints
Contact: places.mre@gmail.com
- Retirement
A topic that has been
the subject of most complaints, as seen in Tom
Falcão's video, which can be watched here on the
blog. Employees have had their share of their
monthly contributions deducted for decades, and
when they file for retirement, they get a
surprise: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Itamaraty) hasn't transferred their employer's
share to the INSS (National Institute of Social
Security). According to labor lawyer Lilian
Maya, with luck, this employee will be able to
start receiving their retirement benefits in two
years. She successfully managed to get one of
her clients to stay at home, receiving benefits
from the Post Office, until his retirement.
There are countless cases.
Elderly people are
forced to travel to the Post/Mission to avoid
being fired. Elderly people over 85, who should
be resting at home, are forced to work against
their will to avoid losing their only means of
survival—the "minimum" wage they have received
as employees of the Brazilian government for
over 40 years.
- Slave labor
1. Employee
X is hired for temporary work at
a Brazilian diplomatic mission.
The Post's administration does
not present the contract, and
after 15 days of work, he is
informed that the Post will not
have the money to pay him
because the hiring of a
temporary employee was not
approved by
Brasília.
Employee X received
nothing for 15 days of
work.
2. Employees at
several Posts are still required
to work consular
shifts , having to
be on call 24/7, manning the
Consulate/Post's emergency
number, without pay or overtime.
Some Posts also
rotate employees from
Brasília—diplomats, officials,
and foreign ministry assistants,
called staff employees—while
other Posts impose
responsibility solely on local
staff. The fact is that staff
personnel know that there is an
express provision in the GAP
(Post Administration Guide)
regarding
consular shifts , which states that shifts must
be carried out only by "staff
personnel." Completely without
jurisdiction and without legal
protection, we end up following
the orders of some Post Chiefs,
who become absolutist
legislators, doing only what
suits
them.
3. Local
staff are sent to mobile
consulates, often in distant
cities, to provide services to
Brazilians who cannot attend the
post. For this extra work,
usually carried out on weekends,
we receive no compensation. We
only receive a travel allowance,
which
is often late,
and as a
result ,
we are forced to use our own
money to meet the stipulated
schedule.
- Maternity leave
We have received
numerous complaints, with documentary evidence.
The inherent right of Brazilian INSS
contributors has been denied, forcing them to
return to work 30 days after giving birth, with
a maximum of 30 days of vacation. Many employees
who wish to spend more time with their newborns
use their vacation time, leaving them unable to
enjoy this benefit for two years.
The right to enjoy
120 days of paid maternity leave, as stipulated
by law, is given to Brazilian women who
contribute to the INSS, and this is denied to
us.
- Assault on employee during itinerant
While on duty, an
employee was assaulted by a Brazilian citizen
while providing community service. We know
accidents can happen, and dealing with the
public isn't always easy, but what's
unacceptable is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs'
failure to provide security. Besides sending
unprepared leaders on such missions who don't
know how to handle crises, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs fails to take action in cases
like the one mentioned above, leaving employees
completely unprotected.
- Food Stamp
Some mission
employees in the US are required to apply
for the food stamp program. The program is a
US government aid program for workers living
on poverty-level wages, considered a minimum
subsistence level. If an employee has to
support themselves on their salary, they
will likely starve to death, which is why
some have obtained government assistance.
It's important to note that applying for
food stamps directly affects personal
credit.
The Brazilian
government is trying to transfer a burden
that belongs to it to a country that is
often not prepared to receive it in an
absurd transfer of responsibility.
An employee was hired and signed a contract as if he were working at the Chancellery, but was forced to work at the Ambassador's residence. As a result, he had to follow the residence's routines, schedules, and workdays and was prevented from working the stipulated hours for a Chancellery employee. In other words, the "law of the Ambassador's wishes" was once again applied.
To respondIn the United States, there's a food stamp option, and in many other countries, there's no benefit for workers living in poverty. It's a reality; they're staring to death because the Brazilian government pays local contractors miserable wages. It's sad that our country, which claims to be governed by the Workers' Party, has workers without the basic rights of a Brazilian worker.
To respondThe Brazilian government takes advantage of the laws of many countries that offer no protection for workers to keep slaves doing the hard work in their jobs abroad, without labor rights. Many of these slaves are Brazilians who are being treated unfairly by their own country. Many of these Brazilians don't even dream of going to Brazil because they live in total poverty. Their earnings aren't enough for basic needs. Vacations? Many local contractors are only entitled to a week's vacation. Can they go to Brazil with their families? This is a dream. Local contractors have no rights because it is convenient for the Brazilian government to hire them under the laws of the countries where the positions are located. Many countries, as I said, simply do not have labor laws; the employer is in charge. Applause to the Brazilian government that somehow continues to maintain slavery. There is no other name for Brazilian workers who work for the Brazilian government not having the basic rights of Brazilians. This is simply because the Itamaraty claims that they are locally hired slaves, and local contractors only work for the Brazilian government, but with rights that do not exist in the countries where they were hired. In short, slaves without rights. Oh no! But when it comes to countries that do have laws and enforce them, the Itamaraty does not comply. Countries that do respect workers, in these countries, local Brazilian government employees live in poverty, making it necessary to ask for help. This is the example of the United States. THE LAW OF CONVENIENCE.
WAKE UP BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT SLAVERY IS OVER!!
We are asking our country's leaders for help, so they can end the dictatorship imposed on us and uphold our rights as citizens of a democratic country.
To respondA country governed by the Workers' Party should care first and foremost for its workers, but we are treated like slaves every day, prevented from speaking, and threatened with dismissal.
We are robbed of our right to retirement when, after 25 or 30 years of contributions, we are told to wait at home until your pension is paid, without pay, or else, to avoid losing your salary, continue working. This has been going on for three or four years, and elderly people between 80 and 90, with mobility difficulties, instead of resting and enjoying the last of their remaining lives, are forced to work.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deducts INSS (National Institute of Social Security) contributions from everyone but doesn't remit the funds. We ask our President, where is our money????
Claiming that we are governed by the local laws of the country where the post is located is the ministry's main tactic to avoid labor responsibilities and save money.
To respondWe advise all Brazilian citizens living abroad who visit the consulate: "You are a Brazilian citizen; you enter and leave the country with a Brazilian passport."
When you set foot inside the consulate, you are stepping onto Brazilian soil. Therefore, it is Brazil that must take care of all its employees, in every way, including foreigners.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the "Workers' Party" government, created a "front strategy" to "communicate" more directly with Brazilians living abroad, called the Undersecretariat-General for Brazilian Communities Abroad. So, we ask the question: How can this group at Itamaraty do anything for Brazilians abroad when they don't recognize the needs of native Brazilians working for the Ministry Abroad?
To respondWe have "staff" employees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who fight tooth and nail to leave Brazil and work abroad, earning what they call functional residency as a bonus—in other words, "living abroad for free."
Most of these "staff" employees can't even speak the language from which they are sent.
In other words, it costs a huge amount to keep these people abroad, and their level of knowledge is lower than that of local hires.
Does anyone understand this process?
Brazilians need to know the details of how this black box works.
How absurd this privilege of official residence is. Is there any law passed by the Federal Senate, sanctioned by the President of the Republic, approving this perk?
To respondAdding something more to the comment of the staff of the board, some of these employees are not even good enough to give information, here in our post we have 3 who are useless, they are not useful in any sense, they are incapable of writing a letter or answering a phone and giving information, some can not even read and write properly, which is the case of some APO, what the MRE pays for 1 of these employees, some useless, covers the salary of approximately 6 local employees who are the ones who work. And that's not to mention what is spent on moving, tickets and housing for the employee and dependents. I ask, IS BRAZIL IN A POSITION TO KEEP SEVERAL USELESS PEOPLE, SOME ALMOST ILLITERATE, ABROAD AS IT HAS DONE? It's absurd!!! You can't believe it, right? And there is more rot, really the MRE is a black box that is waiting to be uncovered.
To respondIt's always local officials who teach consular services to newly appointed chancellery officials! Shouldn't it be the other way around? Given that they take courses in this and that and receive wages that pale in comparison to our poverty? Yes, I agree with the colleague above when he says that there are consular officials who don't even know how to provide accurate information to citizens seeking consulate assistance! Total nonsense!
To respondI completely agree with the colleague above: many officers and assistants go abroad without speaking a word of English. They receive very high salaries, at least compared to ours, a stipend to pay for their residence, not to mention perks like tax-free on almost everything! They may have taken a thousand courses, but when they arrive abroad, few know how things actually work, and we, the locals, have to teach them, not only regarding the consular sector but also in several other areas. Wouldn't it be much more logical and much cheaper to invest in the locals, who, after all, will have to stay for life? Is the Brazilian taxpayer aware of this? Is our President aware of this?
To respondOn several occasions, called special occasions, we are forced to work late into the night, Saturdays and Sundays, without earning overtime or the right to enjoy days off to compensate!
To respondBeware of misuse of duties! Post chiefs force local officials to leave their consular duties so that they can assist them in situations of personal interest! And even more only during working hours!
To respondWhere's the money for employees' food? It's never used for us. They use that money to buy all the best for themselves in more expensive markets, and for us, they buy in the cheapest ones and only use a little of the money.
To respondAnd what about that representation allowance that all staff members receive and incorporate into their salaries?
To respondBut that allowance is to represent Brazil, they should dress well, receive people at home, offer cocktails for guests, etc... Only Ambassadors who are in the Embassy do this, the others put the allowance in their pockets and play dead ;-(
I've seen cases where the Consulate is full and the employee has to leave to deal with the head of the post's personal matters, while the people are waiting!!!! And what could the employee do????? This is an abuse of power and a lack of respect for the people, for the local employee and especially for the Brazilian government!!!
To respondWhy do they, those on the staff, chancellery officials and assistants, earn double or triple what we do????? We are qualified labor, many with higher education, all at least bilingual if not multilingual!!!!
To respondAnd there's still favoritism! I've seen bosses give "raises" or "pay raises" to one person or another, causing dissatisfaction among those left out! To me, it's nothing more than a technique to break employee unity! At least the current management boss seems to see the group as a whole!
To respondInterestingly, those "on staff" have a remuneration allowance of $4,200. This remuneration includes a housing allowance. While the salary of the most senior local employee doesn't reach $3,500.
To respondIf those on staff can't live on their salary alone (which, by the way, is very high) and rely on the remuneration to support themselves abroad, what can we say about the local employee who has to live on only $3,000 and still lacks other labor rights?
To give you an idea, rent in metropolitan areas ranges from $1,500 to $2,000.
The colleague above very well puts the discrepancy between the salaries of "staff" and those of local employees! My salary is less than the rent a foreign ministry official pays here in the region! I don't understand how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thinks we are so well paid!
To respondThe issue of injustices practiced in Consulates regarding salary increases is well-posed. The 6% raise in 2006 was distributed at the diplomat's pleasure, giving 9% to some, 6% to others, and 2 or 3% to a few, for no reason at all. He failed to understand that 6% is a percentage, and those who earn more will receive more, without needing to alter the percentages; the raise was given to everyone and was not a merit-based increase (that doesn't exist here).
To respondAnother aggravating factor for staff members is that, in addition to high salaries, official housing, tax exemptions, travel expenses, and baggage allowances, some are also called "on mission" and receive daily allowances (double pay) to work at other posts. I've seen employees spend three months in Brazil, while employees from other posts, or even from within Brazil, come here on missions. They still have their flights paid for. Wouldn't it be better to call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) ITAMARATYTUR?
To respondText from a former local employee:
To respond"For more than 19 years, I too suffered discrimination directed at "local employees." In the most varied forms, including informing me that my rights would be, so exclusively, "the path to the front door."
Why do they always have the funds for parties and more parties in residences, dinners, all the best, expensive drinks, receptions every day???? And, for us, the answer is always the same!!!!. We don't have the funds for a salary increase!!! We don't have the funds to pay overtime, we don't have the funds to buy uniforms for the support staff!!!! Bunch of braggarts, it would be better if they didn't exist!!!! Rotten!!!!!
To respondThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
To respondThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
To respondIn fact, this local movement should demand an ombudsman's office, a sort of "omdusman" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (preferably an independent lawyer, not someone from the diplomatic corps), to receive complaints from locals at overseas posts and address them in the best possible way. Labor injustices are so blatant that they resemble the labor relations practiced during colonial Brazil (based on slavery). I believe that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn't resolve this impasse in a transparent, fair, and satisfactory manner for all (stop hiding behind the so-called "law of convenience" that benefits no one), it will no longer have the face to sit at negotiating tables around the world, proposing "dialogue" and denouncing human rights crimes. Diplomats worthy of performing this noble function should "roll up their sleeves" and show that they know how to negotiate cleanly, fairly, and in solidarity with their employees. Otherwise, they run the risk of being completely discredited, not only by their own employees, but also by national and international public opinion... Success to all of you, awakeners!!!
To respondThe US Consulates force employees to travel to the itinerant offices in their own cars, without even paying for gas. If something happens, who will be responsible?
To respondWill the Foreign Ministry pay for any damage to the car, or any accidents?
Having official cars at the Consulates.
Only if it happens will they take action.
Here in Europe, at the Embassy where I work, official cars are used daily to take and pick up the Ambassador's children from school (by the way - over 18 years of age) and of course not forgetting the detail of taking and picking up dogs from the vet........
To respondBut this will have to stop.... Brazilian taxpayers' money must have destinations........ Do they believe it will be like this forever?............ Wait and They will see..........
Everything in nature is
To respondchained and in motion:
spit, poison, sadness,
flesh, mill,
lament, hatred, pain, onion, cilantro,
fat, blood, coldness—
all of this is at the center
of the same strange table.
Mix each element
with a pinch of pain,
a spoonful of yeast,
a drop of terror.
The juice of feelings—
anger, fear, or lack of love—
produces new seasons:
tears, pus, and sweat.
But, reverse the segment,
intensify the mixture:
seasoning, tears,
blood with sadness,
flesh, poison,
stir everything inside,
pass everything through the mill,
grind the meat, bleed the cilantro,
weep and poison the fat:
You will have an ointment,
a thick, dark drool,
the essence of my torment
and a sauce of a
violently flavored frying
that, swallowing, the creature
notices my suffering
with death, slow and sure.
They think the tide goes out but never returns.
Until now, they were controlling
my destiny, and I went, went, retreated,
gathering fury. Today, I am a loose wave
, as strong as they imagine me weak.
When they see the current reverse,
I want to know if they can resist the surprise,
I want to see how they react to the undertow.
Paulo Pontes
A few days ago, I posted my indignations on the blog, and perhaps I overstepped my bounds, which is why they were removed. But I'm still on the same page. I just won't stress anymore, because after all this, I don't think anything will change. THEY will continue as always, and we, the poor subservients of this infamous class, won't move from where we are either. Frustration is what I'm feeling, especially seeing the FEAR in the eyes of many! I'm going to get away from this rottenness, and I hope with all my heart, even though I don't really believe it, that you can truly AWAKEN!!!
To respondWe need people who believe in the movement, who aren't afraid to face the beast head-on! The scabs should stand down! It's now or never! I believe in Operation Awakening and I'm immensely proud to be part of this historic movement!
To respondI'm a former employee of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, DC, and I was shocked when I heard about this movement from a friend. I've never worked in such a terrible and inhumane place in my life. Diplomats look down on you and treat you like a cheap commodity. Labor laws don't exist, and diplomats live like Arabian sheiks at the expense of the people's money. I can't forget the rent for a secretary: $7,000 to live in a mansion in Potomac. How unfair! It's impossible that no one will do anything to change this situation. It's impossible that no one cares about the rights and respects the laws of people who need a fair and just return. I express my indignation and disgust for these subhumans who work at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, DC.
To respondI suggest you send the link to the case to Hildegard Angel for a blog post, to Gilberto Dimenstein, to Globo for a story on Fantastico, to Folhaleaks... the issue needs to be on the front pages of newspapers and on television. I know this well: when it's important, the contract follows local law; when it's not, it follows Brazilian law.
To respondGood luck!
Just to note the WONDERFUL Christmas and New Year's Eve of 2011 that the Ambassador's teenage children, along with their girlfriends and friends, currently occupying the official Brazilian government residence in London, had. Parties were prepared by the residence staff, and a private driver, an Embassy employee, worked overtime and was available not only to the children but also to their friends. While Mumi and Papi are far away in no one's land, nothing surprises us anymore. And for the accomplices left in charge and covering up this "robbery" of the Brazilian government's public coffers, everything seems fine. WAKE UP, WORKING, TAXPAYING BRAZILIANS.
To respondI work at a Consulate where employees have not received a salary increase for over 14 years. We are required to work 24/7 without any extra pay or compensation for overtime. I witnessed some employees who had worked for the consulate for over 35 years being informed by letter that their contracts would be terminated after a certain date and that they were laid off without the right to a pension in Brazil or in the country where they had worked for years serving Brazilians. A colleague received a notice from her boss that after two years of work experience and extremely competent work, her salary would be reduced because the boss would need to hire an additional driver to be available to the boss's family. We are forced to pay for our own transportation while the boss uses official cars without any discretion, with exorbitant fuel costs.
To respondI'M GOING TO JUMP OFF THIS ROTTEN SHIP WHILE THERE'S STILL TIME....... HERE ARE ILLITERATE PEOPLE EARNING MORE THAN MASTERS AND DOCTORS.....JUST TO PLACE A FLAG AND PUNCH PAPER......
To respondBecause at the Boston Consulate, locals (AA - administrative assistants) have to serve coffee to the boss's guests and work in the accounting department, instead of an OfChan! There are OfChans refusing duties and being assigned only to sign documents while serving the public! Nothing more! Misuse of function is universal and happens all the time! From taking children to a beauty salon during work hours to walking the boss's dog! And all of this paid for with public money!!!!!!!!!!!! And with all this, what about the locals' salaries???? Forgotten for 5 years!
To respondA former employee of the Brazilian Consulate in Los Angeles was only able to stop working at age 85 because he was dying in the hospital, where he later died. He was kept as a slave because he couldn't withdraw. It was work or die, and these bastards at the Foreign Ministry didn't care one bit about the old man's situation. Diplomats are an international labor trafficking mafia with no rights whatsoever.
To respondThe employee in question was named Danilo Azevedpo, and he died in 2005.
My indignation with this bunch of scumbags at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is killing me. They're labor traffickers, they enslave local employees, and they're a bunch of incompetents who merely passed a test but lack class and don't command the respect that qualifies them as representatives of Brazil abroad.
To respondIt would be great to see this bunch of human traffickers behind bars.
At Embassy/Consulate residences, employees are required to do "favors" for the family.
To respondFor example, drive the children to school in their own car.
(If there's a traffic ticket or accident, the employee pays for everything, even if they're not at fault.)
The funds allocated for food for the residence staff are always fun.
To respondWow!!! I even thought the position where I work would be a sad disappointment. I'm "awakening" to a reality that is common to us. Worse, it seems to me like a well-designed system that provides profits and perks for an elite who like to live far from the eyes of taxpayers who pay without knowing the injustices committed by "Representatives of Brazil" abroad. Shameless, that's what it seems to me.
Unqualified people making fortunes, disregarding the well-qualified locals working hard for starvation wages. Thank you for "awakening" me.