Brazilian president denies backing off on social security reform

Brazilian President Michel Temer Thursday denied having backed off on the social security reform that his administration has been trying to approve.

The government has agreed to negotiate some points of the social security reform bill with the Congress, which led to rumors that the government does not have sufficient Congress votes to approve the bill as it is.

But according to Temer, the government's willingness to change some points of the reform cannot be considered a step back.

"Obeying the Congress cannot be considered backing off. We are working together," said the president.

Temer agreed to discuss five points of the controversial reform with the Congress. The bill, proposed by the administration, has been severely criticized as the changes it might bring would allegedly affect poorer workers in a disproportionate manner.

However, one of the key points of the reform -- the minimum retirement age of 65 -- is regarded as non-negotiable by the government.

One of the reasons cited by critics of the minimum age is that life expectancy in Brazil's poorer states is lower, and that poorer citizens would not even live long enough to enjoy retirement.

In addition, opponents of the reform argue that by establishing a minimum retirement age, regardless of how many years citizens have worked, people with more physically demanding jobs, such as construction or rural workers, would be more affected, as they would have to work for more years and pay more tax. Endit