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UNI Global Union, the Global Union Federation that represents more than 20 million workers in the services sector and close to 900 trade unions around the world, expresses its solidarity with its Brazilian brothers and sisters and condemns once again the dismantling of the welfare state resulting from the adoption of the labour and social security reform imposed by the federal government.

These reforms will not advance the cause of progress nor will they improve the working conditions and the rights of workers. On the contrary, they represent an anti-rights’ agenda and constitute a real setback for the working class. The social security reform will make it difficult for the population to have access to retirement; it will reduce the value of their pensions and it will raise the minimum retirement age to a level which is beyond the life expectancy of persons living in the parts of the country with the lowest per capita incomes such as the north, the north east and the more remote parts of the country. In practice, this will mean that many workers will never be able to retire.

The reform of the labour code is intended to change the rules in a way that will benefit employers. It will fundamentally weaken collective bargaining and will lead to a drop in wages and a deterioration in working conditions, thereby also affecting people's health. It also seeks to diminish the rights of professional, managerial and technical staff.

UNI affiliates, represented in this World Executive Board, condemn the attacks on democracy and the rolling back of the rights that Brazilian workers fought for.

UNI, together with its affiliates from around the world, expresses its solidarity with, and support for, our Brazilian brothers and sisters and will continue to fight alongside its affiliates until there is a return to a progressive agenda and the reforms implemented during the coup orchestrated by the Temer government have been undone.