FGTS Council Reports Billions Released to Saque‑Aniversário Workers

Overview

• The Conselho Curador do FGTS reported an extraordinary release program executed in three phases that reached millions of saque‑aniversário opt‑in workers and delivered multi‑billion‑reais disbursements.
• One report says the third phase alone paid R$8.2 billion to 10.3 million workers while the council’s aggregate figures have been published with differing totals across outlets, creating a reconciliation gap in beneficiary counts and amounts.
• The operation was enabled by a provisional measure that authorized one‑time releases for workers who chose the saque‑aniversário and were dismissed without cause, covering those with balances otherwise restricted by that withdrawal modality.
• A follow‑up provisional measure changed how balances used as collateral for loan‑anticipation contracts are treated, allowing workers to withdraw the portion of their FGTS not actually committed to credit operations and preserving payments made under the earlier rule.
• The measures unlocked cash for millions who had blocked funds and fed related programs: workers have already sought FGTS use to cut debts under a debt‑relief scheme that has so far logged billions in requests and initial approvals.