“Brazil:  Interim Government set to Privatise Key Assets and Cut Social Spending”, 26 August 2016

…With Brazil’s Senate starting formal impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff, the interim government of Michel Temer is set to launch a huge programme of privatisations and cuts in education, health and other social programmes.  Fundamental labour rights are also under attack by the government, and the country’s national trade union centres, CUT, FS, UGT /CNPL, CSB, CTB and NCST have jointly pledged to fight against plans to eviscerate the labour code.  The largest of them, CUT, is leading a campaign against the impeachment of Dilma and attacks on former President Lula. Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said “The impeachment process, based on flimsy charges concerning the Dilma government’s budget, will allow political interests…to take control of the country and roll back over a decade of social progress which started with the election of President Lula 13 years ago.  An offensive against workers’ rights is just around the corner, along with cuts to crucial social spending, handing over of key energy assets to corporations and privatization of other state assets...”