Brazil has established a technical working group to regulate indemnity payments made to judges and members of the Public Ministry [1].
This move targets so-called "penduricalhos" — additional benefits and allowances that often bypass salary caps. By mapping these payments, the government aims to increase transparency and ensure that judicial remuneration adheres to the constitutional ceiling [2, 3].
Ministro Edson Fachin, president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the National Council of Justice (CNJ), led the initiative [1, 2]. According to Joint Ordinance No. 3/2026, Paulo Gonet, president of the National Council of the Public Ministry (CNMP), signed the measure [2].
The task force is tasked with mapping all auxiliary funds and indemnity payments within the judiciary [1]. The group has 180 days to complete this mapping process [1].
The initiative covers all judicial bodies across Brazil and includes representatives from the three branches of government [1, 3]. The goal is to regularize the payment of these installments to prevent them from exceeding the legal limits set for public servants [3].
While some reports indicated the group was created on Monday, the formal Joint Ordinance No. 3/2026 was signed on Thursday, the 26th of a month in 2026 [2]. This discrepancy highlights the transition from the initial decision to the formal legal enactment of the oversight body [1, 2].
“The group has 180 days to complete this mapping process.”
The creation of this task force reflects an ongoing effort in Brazil to curb the use of indemnity allowances as a loophole to bypass constitutional salary limits. By involving representatives from all three branches of government, the initiative seeks to standardize remuneration across the judiciary and Public Ministry, potentially reducing public spending and addressing long-standing criticisms regarding judicial pay transparency.
