On August 24, the Senate approved Draft Law No. 1,540/2021, which sets out the establishment of policies for social welfare, health, quality of life at work and recognition of workers in education. Among the objectives, the project seeks to reduce absenteeism from work, improve teachers’ performance, continuous training, employee appreciation, health promotion, independence and active participation of employees working in the field of education in building plans.
The text written by the House of Representatives received a positive opinion from Senator-Rapporteur Teresa Leitão (PT-PE) in the Committee on Social Affairs (CAS). The PL now goes to the President of the Republic for approval.
For the CNTE Minister of Health for Education Workers, Francesca Seixas, the Liberal Party appears to be positive, in the sense that it is interested in providing healthy working conditions for those working in education.
“We need this law to ensure that workers are protected, so that they are respected and can do their work without external pressures coming from the school community, motivated by hate speech and anti-knowledge, or by authoritarian managers,” he explains.
“Poor working conditions, low wages and lack of infrastructure in schools frustrate the majority of education workers, and this in itself is already causing diseases. Having projects aimed at well-being and health is important to put these issues at the heart of the discussion,” Francisca said.
The approved document must coordinate the preparation of mandatory plans for the general education system and optional plans for the special education system. Comprehensive health care and disease prevention measures in the educational environment, as well as practices to promote well-being at work, are planned in a sustainable, humane and lasting way.
According to Teresa, teachers are more susceptible to infections, voice problems and stress due to work. “These aspects fully justify the implementation of specific public policies, with a focus on disease prevention,” she added.
Since the publication of the law, the Federation, states, municipalities and the Federal District will have a period of one year to develop plans in cooperation. The Basic Law also provides for the establishment of indicators and administrative tools to evaluate the objectives in the plans drawn up, as a means of measuring the results and effects of measures on the organizational climate annually, at the end of each term of the head of state concerned. Executive Authority. The results should include data on absence, job readjustment and work accidents.
“Through respectful salary policies and working conditions, these policies can provide the conditions for teachers to devote themselves to one school, thus creating greater connections with students and the school community,” Francisca emphasizes.
He added: “The presence of a democratic administration is necessary to achieve this, with significant participation of professionals, students and the school community, in a broad and permanent dialogue about the educational project and developing the work in a transparent manner.”
How it works
The text proposes that the educational system operate with an integrated vision of workers’ health, aligning the institutional mission of the teacher with their well-being needs, focusing on professional satisfaction with regard to their organization and working conditions, as well as recognition of the good performance of teachers. Servers.
The project combines points to enhance harmony between teachers, superiors and subordinates, with integrated actions for continuous improvement of working conditions.
The plans drawn up by the federations should propose the following points:
permanent health education procedures;
– Vocational training and qualification;
– Inclusion and well-being of workers with disabilities; that it
– Educational procedures to form critical awareness regarding the social, ethical and environmental responsibility of the profession.
“This program of work can benefit the health of education workers as long as there is respect and great interest in providing a healthy working environment, which recognizes workers as persons, who therefore have responsibilities, but also have rights. The benefits will appear when teachers can work with freedom, respect and dignity,” Francisca declares.
With information from Senado Agency.
“Writer. Analyst. Avid travel maven. Devoted twitter guru. Unapologetic pop culture expert. General zombie enthusiast.”
