Brazilian Senate Committee Approves Social Welfare Reform Base Text

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Senate Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) approved yesterday afternoon, September 4th, the Social Welfare reform‘s base text. Senator Tasso Jereissati’s report had 18 votes in favor and seven against.

Individual proposed amendments will still be voted on, suggestions to remove sections from the text.

After almost 500 amendments, suggestions for changes to the text, Jereissati made new deletions and editorial adjustments to the proposal previously voted by the deputies.

None of these changes will trigger returning the text for consideration by the Chamber of Deputies.

In addition to excluding from the proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) the criterion provided by law for receiving the Continuous Benefit (BPC), a per capita income of one quarter of the minimum wage, and removing from the text the increase in points (sum of minimum age and contribution time) required as a transition rule for retirement of professionals currently exposed to unhealthy conditions, Tasso removed the section on the death pension from the proposal.

Thus, in such cases, the current rules continue to apply, whereby no benefit will be less than one minimum wage.

The senators continue debating the amendments. Subsequently, the admissibility of the annex to the report will be voted on, suggesting the submission of a PEC parallel to the Social Welfare reform.

This parallel PEC will include the participation of states and municipalities in the Social Welfare reform, among other changes.