The Employment Protection Program (EPP), the Ministry of Labor, signed 12 new terms of membership in September. The agreements will benefit 1,810 employees of the manufacturing sector in four states: Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo. 

Since the program's inception in July 2015, 61,572 jobs were preserved, 111 companies have joined and another 27 await review of membership applications. If all these requests are approved, the total of preserved jobs will reach 65,014 jobs, with payment of up to R $ 173.5 million workers in FAT resources.

Among the economic sectors that were interested in membership, the manufacturing sector has the largest number of requests (93), followed by the automotive sector (26) and services (24). Companies can join the EPP until December 31, 2016.

The program allows a reduction in working hours and wages of employees.And the reduction of compensation is always less than the journey, since 50% of the wage loss is compensated by the federal government (with a limit of up to 65% of the greater benefit of unemployment insurance). In addition, it maintained the payment of social security contributions, taxes and Guarantee Fund for Time of Service (FGTS).

The government's appeal comes from the Fund for Workers (FAT), the same that is used to pay unemployment insurance. Since the establishment, the PPE transferred to employees over R $ 166.5 million.

Source: Portal Brazil, with information from  the Ministry of Labour