Brasília, July 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - A meeting of leaders of the parties that form the Administration's support base, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, João Paulo Cunha (PT-SP), and the Minister of Social Security, Ricardo Berzoini, assured civil servants full retirement benefits and parity (retirees' right to receive the same increases as their colleagues in active duty). According to a participant at the gathering, Deputy Beto Albuquerque, vice-leader of the PSB, the bill suffered the following alterations:

- Retirement benefits were reduced from R$ 2,400 to R$ 1,058, and anything over this amount will be reduced by 30%;
- The regional ceiling for members of the Judicial branch in the states was reduced from 90.25% to 75% of the salary of a Justice of the Supreme Court (STF).

The report of the Social Security reform reporter, Deputy José Pimentel (PT-CE), is being presented today at the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies. (DAS)