Friday the 13th of October 2023:“Brazil’s Civil Service, and its Paradox”!!!

Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 27^oC, hot, overcast and with showers.

Today is a half-bank holiday, which marks the second day of the long weekend. Although it is not officially recognised as a bank holiday, many civil servants will treat it as one.

However, it will not be a holiday for those in sectors like trade and healthcare. One of the advantages of being a civil servant in Brazil is the entitlement to all bank holidays, along with several additional days off.

Civil servants in Brazil often belong to the upper middle class, which resembles an aristocracy. Traditionally, many individuals earn a university degree primarily to take entrance exams, which provide them with lifelong financial stability through secure employment in the civil service. Once you become a civil servant and join the government payroll, you have job security for life.

Regardless of circumstances, your salary will be deposited in your bank account consistently, rain or shine. Civil servants typically earn relatively high salaries compared to other professions. However, it is important to note that civil servants in Brazil face significant protection from being dismissed regardless of competence, professionalism, or honesty.

There are numerous cases within the Brazilian government where individuals have been proven guilty of illicit and dishonourable acts. Yet, due to their status as civil servants and the protectionism provided by Brazilian law, they cannot be quickly fired.

They may be sidelined from their jobs, not allowed to work, yet still receive their salary every month, even after being found guilty. Many of them might be staying at home and not working at all. Being a civil servant in Brazil is considered a secure job; once you pass the entrance exam, you are guaranteed employment for life.

Many individuals who are more prepared than I am share the view that there should not be any safe jobs within the civil service. If a civil servant fails to perform their duties or lack professionalism, that person should be dismissed. Any government system that becomes complacent or demonstrates a lack of professionalism and dynamism can suffer consequences.

This issue is particularly severe in Brazil, likely worse than in many other countries. Abolishing safe jobs and eliminating certain areas within the Brazilian civil service would enhance government efficiency and aid the country’s growth.

Culturally speaking, I have noticed that many civil servants exhibit a sense of arrogance. They often carry an air of superiority, as if they consider themselves above the regular citizens—those who struggle to find work and ensure a monthly stable salary.

Entrance exams are typically extremely difficult; not everyone is guaranteed to pass and join this elite group. However, many candidates come from families that support them while they study. For ordinary individuals, this often requires balancing work to pay the bills with their studies and exam preparation, putting them at a disadvantage.

If you come from a middle-class or upper-middle-class family, you almost have a guaranteed path to a successful future. I understand and am not condemning this reality; I simply acknowledge how the system operates.

Brazil is a society marked by extreme disparities and unfairness. In this system, the rich get richer and can maintain their privileged positions, mainly due to the inequities inherent in our society. Life is significantly easier if you are wealthy and have access to resources. Conversely, if you belong to a lower class and are trying to climb the social ladder in a country like Brazil, the journey is much more challenging than in other countries in Europe and the United States.

In Brazilian society, it is quite challenging to move up between social classes, especially to attain a higher class, graduate, secure a better job, or improve oneself. I have always felt that if someone is born into poverty, they are often implicitly told from the beginning that they are worthless and that they have no future.

You are worthless and have no future! If you have no future, stop dreaming because dreaming is not for you. Only the middle and upper classes are allowed to dream. In Brazilian society, people from poor backgrounds are often told that they do not have the right to dream. It is a harsh and cruel reality.

Passing an entrance exam and securing a civil service position is significant. However, there is often no mechanism, protocol, or process to verify or evaluate individuals’ productivity. Ultimately, it depends on each person to demand high professionalism and productivity from themselves in the future.

This lack of oversight can lead to issues. Human nature tends to push individuals into their comfort zones over time. When people find themselves in this situation, life can feel good—even perfect—and they may start to relax. As a result, their professionalism and productivity may decline if they are unaware of their responsibilities. If someone lacks discipline, they may become less productive and sometimes act unprofessionally, even while receiving a high salary each month.

This situation presents a complex problem with far-reaching ramifications that I cannot fully address. However, such complacency is highly detrimental to society, particularly in Brazil.

Brazil remains an underdeveloped country, falling between the first and third worlds. Significant progress is needed for it to reach a first-world status. This includes eradicating poverty and slums, fostering professionalism among its citizens, promoting new values, and improving infrastructure.

Furthermore, the presence of unprofessional, slow, selfish, and arrogant civil servants who prioritise their interests over the country’s future hinders progress. Unless these issues are addressed, Brazil will struggle to move forward.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, a certain arrogance is associated with being a civil servant in Brazil. This elitism can be more or less apparent at different times. Sometimes, it is overt, while at other times, it is more subtle but always present to some extent.

I have had several girlfriends who were high-ranking civil servants, and their arrogance stemmed from their financial stability and freedom. Since I do not have much regarding assets or money, they often believed they were superior to me, materially and intellectually. However, I eventually demonstrated otherwise by ending those relationships, which left them wondering why things had changed.

It is not something I take pride in or boast about, but it has happened multiple times, often for similar reasons.

As I have always said, Brazil is a complex society, creating a false sense of security and worth for many people. Ultimately, this leads individuals to feel they are more than they are. Lula and his government have exacerbated this issue by inflating the civil service with unnecessary hires, primarily to secure votes for the future. As a result, we are in a state of greater disillusionment than before.

I am not against civil servants or the civil service itself. However, the equality and hypocrisy of this situation go against my principles and ideals, and they should also concern others.

It was a relaxed day with a few classes and minimal computer work.

In bed by 11.00 pm.

Thank you.

Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.

Richard

Photos by Richard George Photography