MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Thousands of public workers join the first general strike against Brazil's Bolsonaro reforms
Police used stun grenades on protesters in Rio de Janeiro. In several cities, roads were blocked with burning tyres Protests have been held across Brazil as thousands of public workers take part in a general strike against a government proposal to reform pensions. The strike, the first since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January, has affected public transport, schools and banks.
Police used stun grenades on protesters in Rio de Janeiro. In several cities, roads were blocked with burning tyres. Mr Bolsonaro says the controversial reform will restore public finances.
The plan includes raising the minimum retirement age to 65 for men and 62 for women and workers' contributions. Critics argue the changes, which have to be approved by both houses of Congress, would penalise the poorest.
The one-day protest called by unions - the second general strike in Brazil in two years - affected public transport in São Paulo, the country's largest city, where subway workers joined the strike.
Transport had also been affected in other major cities, including Salvador, Curitiba and Maceió and the capital, Brasília. Many schools, universities, banks and parts of the state-run oil company Petrobras were also not working.
In dozens of cities across the country, protesters - who are also against cuts to the education budget - held demonstrations and, in some, blocked streets and roads with burning tires. In the city of Niterói, near Rio, at least two people were injured when a car ran over a group of protesters blocking a street.
The government estimates the current plan for the reform will result in savings of US$ 237bn over the next decade. The changes are seen as crucial to revive the country's economy, still struggling to recover from the 2015-2016 recession, the worst in more than a century.
Opponents say the poor would be the most affected, as they are more likely to start working at a young age and would now be required to work longer before being able to collect pension benefits.
Congress is expected to vote on the reform in the next few weeks, and the new rules would phase in over 12 to 14 years. Speaking to journalists, Mr Bolsonaro said he was confident that Congress would approve the reform.
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Read all commentsREF: “The government estimates the current plan for the reform will result in savings of US$ 237bn over the next decade”:
Jun 15th, 2019 - 12:59 pm 0Sounds excellent! So what was a nationwide strike about?
https://www.otempo.com.br/image/contentid/policy:1.2196623:1560557666/CHARGE%20O%20TEMPO.JPG?f=3x2&q=0.6&w=620&$p$f$q$w=904c3fd
Wouldn't expect anything different from the unions and civil servants in this country .....blockading factory entrances, not allowing the wokers in - blocking highways and main avenues with garbage and burning tyres - setting fire to cars to make people afraid of trying to get to work - paralyzing public transport, preventing workers from getting to their jobs (including failed attempts to set buses on fire...with the passengers still inside)....and then counting them all as being strikers...
Jun 18th, 2019 - 10:06 pm 0It's just the PT and its cronies - the left-wing unions - at work, nothing else. And it's exactly that kind of sh*t that got Brazil into the recession in the first place. People are starting to recognize the PT, PCdoB , PSOL for the shit they are.
REF: “The government estimates the current plan for the reform will result in savings of US$ 237bn over the next decade”:
Jun 19th, 2019 - 02:19 am 0Sounds much more like a mind-boggling style of taking everyone [+ the ignorant, illusioned & brainwashed] for a ride [wild-goose-chase] in a classic political stunt!
As mentioned elsewhere; I FIRMLY believe that Once a politician; ALWAYS a crook [and vice versa]!
The stolen wealth is a watered-down version of the actual figure! The Total Stolen Wealth for the last fifty or so years by the 2'000 or so politicians could easily reach well beyond trillions and unchecked; will continue to go on increasing! Pl. make YOUR OWN Calculation:
https://jornalorebate.com.br/13810-matematicamente-insustentavel#
So at this rate, by ANY kind of Economic Reforms, the State/Fed-Income can NEVER exceed the 'expenditure'! The Economic-Crisis may only seem to vanish by an Elusive, Cosmetic+Superficial Ineffective Modifications!
Realistically speaking; Believe it or NOT:
- the crisis is here to stay
- the standard of living will dwindle
- the quality of life will worsen
- the cost of living will sky-rocket [or at least take-off]
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