Disclosure
The discussion around the Bill 733which proposes changes to the Ports Law (Law nº 12,815/2013), returned to the center of the Brazilian logistics agenda and promises to directly influence the future of the national port infrastructure.
Considered one of the most relevant proposals for the sector in recent years, the article seeks to update the regulatory framework for Brazilian ports at a time when the country is facing challenges related to international competitiveness, attracting investment and the need to expand its operational capacity.
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Em exclusive interview given to Jornal Portuárioduring the Integration 5.0 Programthe lawyer specializing in Maritime and Port Law Bruno Burini made a comprehensive analysis of the project and highlighted that the debate goes far beyond modernizing legislation. According to him, the proposal involves sensitive issues related to labor relations, legal security, operational efficiency and the development of Brazilian logistics infrastructure.
For Burini, the country is going through a decisive moment to define what the role of Brazilian ports will be in the coming decades.
“There is a legitimate concern with the preservation of labor relations, but there is also a need to promote competitiveness, modernization and flexibility so that Brazilian ports keep up with the evolution of the international market”, he highlighted during the interview.
A debate that goes beyond legislation
Throughout the interview, Burini highlighted that one of the main challenges of PL 733 is finding a balance between the protection of port workers and the need to modernize operations.
The topic gained great repercussion among unions and entities representing the category, mainly due to discussions involving the Labor Management Body (OGMO)the multifunctionality of workers and possible changes in the way they are hired.
According to the expert, workers’ concerns are understandable and need to be treated responsibly.
Port cities, he recalls, have a strong economic dependence on maritime activity, making it essential to preserve employment and professional qualifications.
At the same time, Burini assesses that the production sector needs greater flexibility to follow the technological evolution of terminals and meet the new demands of international trade.
“The operator needs the worker, and the worker needs the operator. The development of ports depends on a cooperative relationship between everyone involved”, he summarized.
Multifunctionality and flexibility are among the most sensitive topics
One of the central points of the project is precisely the discussion about the so-called multifunctionalityallowing workers to carry out different activities within the port operation.
For the specialist, this possibility can represent productivity gains, as long as it does not result in precarious work relationships.
According to Burini, healthy competition stimulates efficiency, innovation and economic growth, but modernization cannot mean the loss of historical rights won by workers.
Therefore, it advocates that any change be constructed through dialogue between the government, port operators, unions, shipowners and other agents involved in the logistics chain.
Legal security is the main tool for attracting investments
Another aspect highlighted during the interview was the importance of legal security to expand private investments in Brazilian ports.
In Bruno Burini’s assessment, national and foreign investors seek stable, predictable regulatory environments capable of guaranteeing a return to the high contributions required by port infrastructure.
Among the advances foreseen by the project is the possibility of extending terminal concession and leasing terms, a measure considered essential to guarantee sufficient time to recover the investments made.
According to him, this type of measure tends to stimulate new expansion projects, technological modernization and an increase in the operational capacity of Brazilian ports.
“Predictability reduces risks and allows entrepreneurs to focus their efforts on business development, and not on bureaucracy,” he stated.
