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Mayor of Malhador, in Sergipe, surprised street sweepers by pretending a collective dismissal before announcing a salary increase to R$ 3,500.
A video posted on social media by the mayor of Malhador, on May 15, 2026, in the Agreste of Sergipe, drew attention due to the emotional reaction of the city’s street sweepers after a surprise organized by the municipal administration. In the footage, Mayor Assisinho (PSD) gathers the workers in a public square and begins a speech that seemed to announce a collective dismissal.
“I didn’t sleep at night. You won’t be able to do the collection, no. Unfortunately, everyone will have to be dismissed,” said the mayor in front of the professionals, who immediately showed concern with the news.
The atmosphere became even tenser when the street sweepers received envelopes that supposedly contained termination documents. While some workers looked at the papers in silence, others appeared nervous at the possibility of losing their jobs.
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Street sweepers discover that supposed dismissal was a salary increase announcement
The situation completely changed when the workers opened the envelopes and realized they were not termination documents. Inside the papers, the municipal administration announced a salary increase that would raise the wages of the category to R$ 3,500.
After the scare, the mayor explained that the action was part of a tribute to the Street Sweeper’s Day. The moment quickly turned into a celebration among the workers present.
“This is a prank on Street Sweeper’s Day. I wanted to say thank you very much and no one is dismissed here. You are the first street sweepers to receive a salary of R$ 3,500. You deserve it for everything you do for the city,” stated Assisinho during the announcement.
The video shows the surprise and emotion among the professionals after the revelation of the increase.
Bill will still be sent for approval by the City Council
According to the mayor, the salary adjustment still depends on legislative approval. According to Assisinho, the Bill will be sent to the Malhador City Council this Tuesday (19).
If approved by the councilors, the measure will formalize the new salary value announced to the workers during the action promoted by the city hall.
At the time of publication, the Malhador City Hall had not yet officially detailed how the adjustment structure will be nor the total number of professionals benefited by the project.
The report from the Leiajá portal highlighted that it contacted the municipal administration and is awaiting a response. The space remains open for a statement from the city hall.
Video gained traction on social media after workers’ reaction
The images of the surprise quickly began circulating on social media, mainly due to the abrupt shift from tension to relief during the announcement made in the public square.
Comments posted on the platforms mainly highlighted the recognition of the street sweepers, professionals responsible for garbage collection and urban cleaning in the municipality.
The case also drew attention because the mayor initially used a narrative of collective dismissal before revealing the salary increase, a strategy that generated a strong emotional reaction among the workers present.
In many Brazilian cities, street cleaners frequently appear in debates related to professional appreciation, working conditions, and recognition of urban services considered essential for the daily functioning of municipalities.
Urban cleaning professionals perform an activity considered essential in cities
Street cleaners work directly in waste collection, street cleaning, garbage removal, and maintenance of urban public cleanliness. The work is considered fundamental for public health and the functioning of cities.
During periods of health crises and increased urban waste, the activity gained even more prominence in discussions about essential services.
The tribute organized by the Malhador city hall occurred precisely within this context of valuing the category on Street Cleaner’s Day, a date used in various municipalities for symbolic recognition of the work performed by urban cleaning professionals.
In the video released by the municipal administration, the mayor concludes the surprise by stating that the workers “deserve it for everything they do for the city,” a phrase that ended up becoming the most shared excerpt of the recording on social networks.
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