Brasília, 1/22/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Social Security, Ricardo Berzoini, says that the PT government will not adopt any measures involving changes in social security without discussing them with the public.

Berzoini was responding to remarks by the president of the union of federal tax inspectors, Reynaldo Velasco Puggi, who expressed concern with reports in the press on the social security reform and the idea of a single ceiling for all retirees.

At the moment, Brazilian civil servants receive full pay upon retirement. Velasco says that rather than a complete change in the rules, it would be best to plug the loopholes in the present system. (AB)