Without Lula, act in São Paulo unites union centrals and government by the end of the 6 × 1 scale

In the largest event of Labor Day in São Paulo, trade unions and representatives of the Federal Government converged on Thursday (1st) in defense of the agenda of the end of the 6 × 1 scale, with reduced working hours and without reducing remuneration.

The unions and ministers present also reinforced the claims of income tax exemption of up to R $ 5,000, salary equality between men and women and decreased interest rates.

Participated in the event, in the North Zone of São Paulo, the Ministers of Labor and Employment, Luiz Marinho; the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Márcio Macêdo; and women, Aparecida Gonçalves.

The political act, which took place at Praça Campo de Bagatelle, began around 11am and was organized by the Força Sindical Union Centrals, Central of Brazilian Unions (CSB), Brazilian Workers Center (CTB), General Workers Union (UGT), New Workers’ Central, and Public Server Central. The Single Workers Central (CUT) participated as a guest.

“The workday has to be reduced. The last reduction we had of the journey was in 1988. We are sure that today we are able to work to less than the 40 hours per week. We have to have more time to rest, for family, to study, especially when we have many problems related to mental health,” said Força Sindical President Miguel Torres.

According to him, the approval of the reduction of working hours and the end of the 6 × 1 scale will, however, depend on popular mobilization and the conviction of a conservative national congress.

“The work we will have is to convince most of Congress, which is conservative, the need to think of Brazil as a whole, to think about people, in a more developed country, with more safety in people’s health,” he added.

The Minister of Labor and Employment, Luiz Marinho, said that the proposal is supported by the government, but needs dialogue with the business community, especially the trade and service sectors, as well as the conviction of the National Congress.

“It takes a construction, several hands, which goes through the dialogue with the business community, which is especially through trade and service. And especially through political dialogue with the National Congress,” he said.

According to him, Congress should evaluate how well the measure can do for the Brazilian economy and the work environment. “This is how we have to look. It’s not something ‘against’ B ‘, we need to look at the country’s interest,” Marino added.

The Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Márcio Macêdo, said he sees real chances of the agenda of the end of the 6 × 1 scale and the exemption of income tax of up to R $ 5,000 passing the congress. According to him, the reduction of working hours is a “civilizing” measure.

“I think it has a chance to move forward, it is a civilizing agenda. The 6 × 1 scale is a crime against the worker, it is cruel against the working class. We all do not only need worthy work and fair salary. It takes time to live, have time to be with family, having time to do what they like, to play music, to listen to music,” he said.

Exemption in IR

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivered, on the 18th, to the National Congress the Bill of Income Tax (IR) Bill for those who earn up to R $ 5,000. The text that will be analyzed also creates partial discount for those who receive between $ 5,000 and $ 7,000, reducing the amount currently paid.

“I believe it will be approved in the National Congress because it is another agenda that has fallen into the collective imagination very positively. The exemption of income tax for those who earn up to $ 5,000 means: who earns less does not pay tax and those who earn more pay tax,” said Macêdo.

“I think it will pass, there is a good mobilization in society, the weather is good, I have a lot of hope that this goes through,” he added.

Absence of President Lula

The Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic also commented on the absence of President Lula at the time of May 1 in São Paulo. According to him, although Lula did not come to the act, the president participated in the “May 1 Week”, receiving the union centrals in Brasilia last Tuesday (29), when workers presented a unified agenda of the category.

“President Lula is missing anywhere he is not. His presence is the living presence of history for the democratic struggle of the country. This is part of his history, he designed him to the political world and to the world of society. He is here for his work, he is here for his actions, he is here for his history, he is here for what he is doing today in government,” said Macêdo.