Brasília, 2/13/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Social Security, Amir Lando, reports that as soon as the government is able to put the terms of the agreement it reached with Social Security medical experts in writing (that is, publish it in the Federal Register), which should be on Monday or Tuesday, the strike by the medical experts will end.

Lando explained that the government had agreed to pay raises of 61% to 93% by the end of 2006, with a salary ceiling at R$6,699.82.

By the end of this year, medical experts who work 40 hours weekly for the Social Security system will get at least R$3,696.15.

The agreement will mean an additional outlay of R$39 million this year, and R$110 million annually beginning in 2006. (AB)