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BRAZIL: (Excerpt translated from Portuguese) The housewives’ retirement bill passed and was promulgated in July last year and ,in the article 201, paragraphs 12 and 13 it guarantees the benefit of a minimum wage, in a special system, for the women workers who either do not have their own income or who have a low income, who work at home. This law, would, at the beginning, benefit 665 thousand women. To help mobilize and hasten the process, the congresswoman Luci has already presented a regulation bill, the PL (in English: RB) 5933/2005. The congresswoman’s regulation proposal expects that women with no income or with an income of up to two minimum wages, 60 years old or up, will have the right to receive one minimum wage retirement. Subject: ENC III Housewives’ Demonstration Importance: High ALENCAR IS TOUCHED AND GUARANTEES SUPPORT TO HOUSEWIVES’ RETIREMENT
In a moving meeting, the President in charge, José Alencar, received a group of 40 women workers who represented more than 3.500 women who had participated in the III National Demonstration for Housewives’ Retirement in Brasilia, on March 8 (Women’s International Day). An 86 year old housewife handed the President one million two hundred thousand signatures on applications fulfilled all over Brazil, demanding the regulation of the right to retirement for no income and low income housewives. José Alencar told the women and the congress people, during the meeting, that he was deeply moved and remembered his mother who had been a housewife and, with much difficulty, had brought up 16 children and did not have her work acknowledged by society. In memory of his mother, he gave his word that he would try hard to know Congresswoman Luci Choinacki’s (PT/SC) regulation project in depth and that he would work hard so as the poor women can have their right guaranteed. “The housewives’ retirement may be a blessing that will cure our social security”, he said. The President in charge pointed out that, despite the financial difficulties, the government should give special attention to this demand by Brazilian women who have been doing such an important work for the country. The meeting took place early in the afternoon but the women have already been participating in the III Demonstration and beating their pans since early morning. That demonstration happened in front of the Social Security Ministry. “No slavery chain is broken without a pact and much fight. That is why we are very happy with the big mobilization in Brasilia. We are showing the housewives’ work force and the need to distribute income in Brazil”, said Congresswoman Luci. The demonstration had women workers representing more than 20 states such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Bahia, Pernambuco, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Paraná, SãoPaulo, Mato Grosso and Rio de Janeiro, besides several supporting organizations, such as Articulação National de Mulheres (AMB)- National Women’s Movement (NWM), Movimento das Mulheres Camponesas (MMC-Brasil)-Movement of the Rural Women Workers (MRWW), Marcha Mundial de Mulheres (MMM)-World Women Demonstration (WWD), Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT)-One Workers’ Central, Central dos Movimentos Populares – Popular Movements Central, federal, state and city congress people, mayors, vice-mayors, city assembly people and several national NGO’s. The housewive’s retirement passed and was promulgated in July last year and in article 201, paragraphs12 and 13, the law guarantees the benefit of one minimum wage, in a special system, to the women workers who have no income of their own or have a low one, provided that they work at home. This would initially benefit 665 thousand women. To help mobilize and hasten the process, congresswoman Luci has already presented a Regulating Bill, the PL (RB) 5933/2005. The congresswoman’s regulating bill will benefit women who do not have an income or who have an income of up to two minimum wages, who are 60 years old or over. They will have the right to one minimum wage retirement. For more information: Congress Chamber Tel.: (61) 3215-5282 Responsible reporter: Luciane Bosenbecker Cell phone: (61)8165-3669
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