Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s ambitious pension reform bill passed an initial vote in Congress, a major step for his efforts to boost confidence in the country’s lagging economy.
In the first of two votes, the lower house of Brazil’s Congress approved the reform measure, a boon for Bolsonaro whose signature economic policy has faced stiff resistance from trade unions and a hostile Congress.
Social activists and union members protested the proposed measure in Sao Paulo on Wednesday evening. “I don’t want to work until I die,” said one demonstrator’s sign.
But the measure received support from 379 deputies, above the required 308, while 131 voted against.
The proposal to introduce a minimum retirement age and increase contributions over a longer period of time is seen as crucial to Bolsonaro’s ability to deliver on other promised measures to shake up Latin America’s biggest economy, which is on the brink of recession.
The reform is expected to generate savings of around 1tn reais ($266bn) over 10 years.
Bolsonaro took to Twitter to praise the vote result. “Brazil is getting closer and closer to the path to jobs and prosperity,” he wrote.
The lower house will hold a second vote before the bill can move to the senate for two votes, most likely ahead of a two-week recess that starts on July 18.
Changing the pension system requires three-fifths of Congress to support a constitutional amendment.
Bolsonaro has warned that Brazil’s generous pension system would bankrupt the country if the changes were not adopted.
In 2018, Brazil’s pension deficit — including public, private, state, municipal and military — reached 362bn reais, which is the equivalent of 5.5% of GDP. In 2011 it was 2.1%.
The deterioration is largely due to the 2015-2016 recession, from which the country is still struggling to recover.
There has been growing consensus in Congress that pension reform is necessary, particularly as the population ages.
The opposition, led by the Workers Party (PT), acknowledged the need for reform but attempted to postpone the vote, saying the law would increase inequality by affecting pensions for the poorest citizens, in particular black women, rural workers and teachers.
“It’s a cruel, unjust, inept and useless reform,” said PT deputy Margarida Salomao.
“It’s not a problem of expenses, it’s a problem of collection, and this reform protects the rich.” The protesters outside Congress shared her sentiment. Protester Maria Silva Vasconcellos said the working class was living in “misery.” “Before they mess with the pockets of the poor, they have to reach inside their own pockets, because there are many people there (in Congress) retiring at 40, 50 years (old), and we have to die to retire,” the 54-year-old domestic worker said.
Members of Congress and supporters of the pension reform bill, celebrate the vote at the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, Brazil.
