Brazil's mining regulator looks to nearly triple its staff

Brazilian mining regulator ANM requested authorization from the federal government to hire 1,003 new employees amid calls for the watchdog to be beefed up. 

By law, ANM is supposed to employ 2,121 people but the current headcount is only 664, of which 34 are tasked with inspecting the country’s 928 tailings dams, according to regulatory agencies labor union Sinagências.

The request to hire more people comes a few days after staff threatened to strike due to what they say are bad working conditions and a lack of funds.

ANM was created in 2017, replacing mining department DNPM, which did not have regulatory powers. Staff complain that local governments divert resources raised via mining tax CFEM even though these funds are for the regulator.

Even mining companies are demanding greater funding and more staff at the regulator.

“Strengthening regulatory agencies in Brazil means moving vigorously towards establishing real sustainable development conditions for economic sectors. The sector is interested in a strong regulatory body,” Rinaldo Mancin, director of institutional relations at mining association Ibram, said in a statement.

“In our view, it is necessary that the allocated resources are actually applied by the institution. That is the only way we will have an agency with a qualified workforce capable of supervising the sector.”