Brussels, 28 April 2017 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC has expressed its full solidarity with the workers of Brazil, as a general strike involving all the country's trade union confederations take place today. The strike is in protest at the Temer government's plans to remove all restrictions on outsourcing, impose drastic cuts on pensions, salaries and social security and dismantle labour rights including provisions on holidays, overtime and working hours.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said "This government, which took power illegitimately, is responsible for economic devastation with unemployment now close to 13 million people and the country in a deep recession. A small cabal of immensely wealthy businesspeople are the only beneficiaries of what is in effect a scorched-earth economic policy involving a huge transfer of wealth to Brazil's oligarchs.

The ITUC represents 181 million workers in 163 countries and territories and has 340 national affiliates.

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