The recent rollout of Brazil's new public sector payroll system has raised concerns among state employees, particularly within the health sector and education, as numerous professionals reported issues with their February paychecks. According to reports, many workers received only their base salaries and lacked additional benefits such as health aid, food assistance, and night shift differentials. The glitches surfaced as part of the government of Acre’s transition to the new e-Turmalina payroll system implemented by the State Secretariat for Administration (Sead).
The problems were confirmed after nursing and health staff accessed their payment statements on February 27, 2025, discovering missing benefits. Some employees contacted the local media outlet, ac24horas, expressing frustration over the incomplete payment notifications. The administration acknowledged the technical problems linked to the transition phase of the new system and assured employees through Sead’s official communications, stating, "New files have been provided to allow accurate viewing of processed payroll values after discrepancies were identified." They urged all employees to carefully review their paychecks and reach out to their personnel departments to correct any inconsistencies.
Paulo Roberto Correia, Secretary of State for Administration, emphasized the importance of this shift to the automated payroll system. He noted, “The modernization of our payroll is a fundamental step to ensuring safer processes and greater transparency for employees.” He encouraged patience among workers during this adjustment period, reinforcing the support available for any enquiries.
During the implementation phase of e-Turmalina, the Sead noted several temporary benefits encountered discrepancies. Long-term solutions to address inconsistencies have been put in place, assuring employees any underpayments would be compensated through additional sheets as soon as possible, following the upcoming Carnival holiday. Conversely, if any payments were made excessively, those amounts would be reclaimed as stipulated by law.
Meanwhile, the educational sector also faced similar challenges. The Brazilian Education Ministry has been addressing payment discrepancies for contracted teachers. The Union of Education Professionals (Sinpro) acted swiftly to resolve issues affecting temporary faculty members within the public education system. Reports indicated many of these educators spotted inaccuracies on their paycheck previews released prematurely by the Treasury before corrections were finalized by the Education Department. Sinpro quickly engaged with the Subsecretariat of Personnel Management (Sugep) to rectify these payroll discrepancies.
Cleber Soares, the Union’s director, stated, “We guaranteed our commitment to ensuring no one suffers financial loss due to these payroll issues.” The Sugep assured the incorrect figures would be amended, with expected payment dates for teachers set as March 7, aligning payments with regular salaries for permanent faculty members. Should any problems remain after this date, the Sugep confirmed additional payments would be issued as needed within the subsequent week.
With this modernization, both the government of Acre and Sinpro highlight the need for technological infrastructure capable of minimizing errors. “It’s imperative we develop systems and structures to eliminate these mistakes,” Soares remarked. This sentiment reflects broader discussions about the efficacy of public service technology as regions across Brazil assimilate new management systems within their public sectors.
Employees are encouraged to utilize official government channels for inquiries about their salaries and payroll discrepancies. Social media platforms, local news outlets, and official government webpages are suggested sources for employees to gather updates on any adjustments being made.
While the transition to e-Turmalina indicates progress toward efficient public sector management, issues like those initially encountered serve as reminders of the growing pains often accompanying reform. Workers have not only felt the immediate impacts but also voiced their anticipation for the system’s full functionality as the public sector adapts to new technological standards.
The introduction of e-Turmalina is being positioned as more than just payroll software; it is heralded as central to enhancing transparency and reliability through automated processes. With acknowledgment of initial lapses, officials maintain optimism about its potential benefits, calling for collective patience and collaboration as the employees await rectifications and anticipate future improvements.
Although challenges within payroll systems raise immediate concerns about employees’ financial well-being, the commitment from relevant authorities to rectify issues swiftly is aimed at mitigating potential legislative and administrative fallout, thereby reassuring the state’s workforce during this pivotal transition.