Protests have been held across Brazil as thousands of public workers take part in a general strike against a government proposal to reform pensions.
The strike, the first since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January, has affected public transport, schools and banks.
Police used stun grenades on protesters in Rio de Janeiro. In several cities, roads were blocked with burning tyres.
Mr Bolsonaro says the controversial reform will restore public finances.
The plan includes raising the minimum retirement age to 65 for men and 62 for women and workers' contributions. Critics argue the changes, which have to be approved by both houses of Congress, would penalise the poorest.
The one-day protest called by unions – the second general strike in Brazil in two years – affected public transport in São Paulo, the country's largest city, where subway workers joined the strike.
Transport had also been affected in other major cities, including Salvador, Curitiba and Maceió and the capital, Brasília. Many schools, universities, banks and parts of the state-run oil company Petrobras were also not working.
In dozens of cities across the country, protesters – who are also against cuts to the education budget – held demonstrations and, in some, blocked streets and roads with burning tires.
In the city of Niterói, near Rio, at least two people were injured when a car ran over a group of protesters blocking a street.
The government estimates the current plan for the reform will result in savings of $237bn (£188bn) over the next decade. The changes are seen as crucial to revive the country's economy, still struggling to recover from the 2015-2016 recession, the worst in more than a century.
Opponents say the poor would be the most affected, as they are more likely to start working at a young age anRead More – Source
Protests have been held across Brazil as thousands of public workers take part in a general strike against a government proposal to reform pensions.
The strike, the first since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January, has affected public transport, schools and banks.
Police used stun grenades on protesters in Rio de Janeiro. In several cities, roads were blocked with burning tyres.
Mr Bolsonaro says the controversial reform will restore public finances.
The plan includes raising the minimum retirement age to 65 for men and 62 for women and workers' contributions. Critics argue the changes, which have to be approved by both houses of Congress, would penalise the poorest.
The one-day protest called by unions – the second general strike in Brazil in two years – affected public transport in São Paulo, the country's largest city, where subway workers joined the strike.
Transport had also been affected in other major cities, including Salvador, Curitiba and Maceió and the capital, Brasília. Many schools, universities, banks and parts of the state-run oil company Petrobras were also not working.
In dozens of cities across the country, protesters – who are also against cuts to the education budget – held demonstrations and, in some, blocked streets and roads with burning tires.
In the city of Niterói, near Rio, at least two people were injured when a car ran over a group of protesters blocking a street.
The government estimates the current plan for the reform will result in savings of $237bn (£188bn) over the next decade. The changes are seen as crucial to revive the country's economy, still struggling to recover from the 2015-2016 recession, the worst in more than a century.
Opponents say the poor would be the most affected, as they are more likely to start working at a young age anRead More – Source
