Brazil's Temer defends labor, social security reforms in first TV speech

In his first TV speech after swearing-in as president on Wednesday, Brazil's Michel Temer defended government reforms of labor laws and social security system.

According to Temer, without a reform, the government will soon be unable to pay retirement pensions.

"In order to ensure the pension payments, we must reform the social security system. Without the reform, in a few years the government will be unable to pay the retired citizens' pensions," he said.

"Our goal is to ensure a system in which pensions are paid on the right day, without defaults and tricks ... a system which protects the elder without punishing the young," he added.

Temer's team has been working on a proposal for a social security reform since he took over as interim president in May.

However, the proposal is criticized by labor unions and the opposition, which believe the government wants to make it harder for timely retirement and pension collection in the future.

Temer said that it is necessary to "modernize" Brazil's labor laws, but labor unions believe the president intends to take away historical rights such as the year-end bonus and annual paid vacations.

They said the government is replacing the laws which guarantee free negotiations between company and workers.

The TV speech was recorded before Temer embarked on his first official foreign trip as president. He is expected to soon travel to China for the G20 summit. Endit