Brasília, November 22, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday president Fernando Henrique Cardoso admitted that the Brazilian minimum wage was low, in spite of the increases made during his administration. "I wish it were a lot more," he said. Cardoso said that at US$57 - R$200 - it needed to be adjusted due to the rise of the dollar against the real which in turn caused prices to rise across the board.

Cardoso said that back in 1994, a minimum wage could not buy a basket of basic necessities, something it can do today. He said the next government will adjust the minimum wage. During the campaign, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, promised to double the real value of the minimum wage. (AB)