Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has established a new salary bonus of up to 22.5% for its ministerial advisors [1].
The move comes as the court faces scrutiny over "penduricalhos" — the colloquial term for supplementary payments and perks that often push judicial earnings beyond official salary caps.
The new gratification applies to 276 court servers [2]. According to court records, the measure follows a technical and budgetary evaluation and aligns with remuneration models already utilized by other superior courts in Brazil [1], [2].
Financial estimates indicate the bonus will cost approximately R$17.5 million over a 12-month period [3]. This addition to staff pay occurs while the judiciary continues to debate the limitations of extra payments for magistrates.
Previously, the limit for such supplements for magistrates was set at 35% of the R$46,300 ceiling, which equates to roughly R$16,000 per month [4]. The court said the new advisor bonus is intended to complement remuneration based on the specific needs of the ministerial offices.
Critics of judicial spending often point to these additions as a way to bypass spending limits. However, the STF said the adjustments are necessary to maintain the technical quality of the staff supporting the justices.
“The STF established a salary supplement of up to 22.5% for 276 staff members.”
This decision highlights the persistent tension in Brazil between the judiciary's desire to attract high-level technical staff and public pressure to cap government spending. By implementing this bonus while simultaneously discussing limits on magistrate perks, the STF is attempting to standardize staff pay across superior courts, though the timing risks fueling perceptions of institutional privilege.
