The Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) has instituted a new gratification that may increase the remuneration of eligible staff by up to 15% [1, 2].

This move affects the federal audit court's leadership and advisory roles in Brasília. The adjustment aims to align compensation with the approved budget, while rewarding personnel tasked with institutional management and high technical complexity [1, 2].

Reports regarding the scale of these pay increases vary across sources. While some reports focus on the 15% gratification [1, 2], other records indicate the Câmara approved a broader salary adjustment that could elevate TCU salaries by up to 56% [3]. That specific bill passed with 350 votes in favor and 77 against [3].

These combined adjustments have led to claims that the maximum possible salary for certain servers could reach R$ 64,000 [4]. The TCU said the new gratification is intended for those in direction and supervision roles to ensure the agency maintains technical expertise in its leadership [1, 2].

Critics of the measure describe such additions as "penduricalhos" — a Brazilian term for supplementary benefits that often push public servant pay beyond official ceilings [4]. The agency said that the 15% increase remains compatible with its existing budget [2].

“The TCU has instituted a new gratification that may increase the remuneration of eligible staff by up to 15%.”

The discrepancy between the 15% gratification and the reported 56% adjustment suggests a multi-layered approach to increasing compensation at the TCU. By combining base salary adjustments with specific role-based gratifications, the agency can significantly increase the top-end pay scale, potentially sparking political debate over public spending and salary caps in the Brazilian civil service.