São Paulo, 1/28/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Social Security, Ricardo Berzoini, reports that the government is studying a series of measures to combat fraud in the National Social Security Institute (INSS). Berzoini said the quality of management and technology at the social security system must be up to par with the enormous volume of money it deals with.

The minister revealed that it is estimated that the INSS will pay out some R$100 billion in benefits this year. "An organization which handles that much money has to have modern, cutting edge technology and management skills that are compatible," he said. (AB)