Thousands of rural workers protest in Brasilia against raising of retirement age to 65

Thousands of activists from farmers' movements protested Monday outside the Ministry of Planning in Brasilia against the new pensions reform being led by the new government of Michel Temer.

Anger is particularly directed at Temer's proposal to raise the minimum retirement age to 65 for men and women.

The protest happened largely peacefully except for when a handful of protesters tried to enter the government building but were prevented by security forces.

"The proposed reform will cause a loss of rights for the workers of the field, who will become equal to city workers," said a note issued by the movements behind the protest.

The Temer administration, which was formally installed into office last week after the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff but has ruled in an interim capacity since May, wishes to modify the current pensions system, which mandates women must work at least 30 years and men 35 years.

The reform would raise the ceiling to 65 years for all workers, removing a benefit for rural workers who can retire at 60 for men and 55 for women, even if they have not worked the minimum number of years, since their labor is considered to be more taxing.

The Temer government has also said in the past that the entire pensions system is open to abuse, citing government figures that the average retirement age is 54, that spouses and children of deceased public servants or soldiers can collect pensions until they die, and that the current rate of payouts are unsustainable. Enditem