A government against the workers - It blackened the cat's eye.

Michel Temer's interim government is signaling a series of measures that go against the social and labor rights of the Brazilian people. Little by little—while it remains uncertain whether Dilma Rousseff will return to the Presidency—he has been "walking along the fence."

Recently, Provisional Measure 739/2016 was published in the Official Gazette of the Union, aiming to amend Law 8.213/1991, which provides for the Social Security Benefits Plan. It is currently being processed by a joint committee of senators and representatives.

The intention is, among other measures, to review the benefits of sickness assistance and disability retirement, granted administratively and judicially more than two years ago, by summoning the insured individuals for a new medical examination. It is important to remember that, in 2014, Law 13.063 was enacted, stemming from a project I authored, which exempts those over 60 years of age who are retired due to disability from medical examinations.

The argument used to justify these changes is the rhetoric that Social Security is bankrupt. We must remain very calm and exercise extreme caution at this time. It is of utmost importance to provide some clarifications so that everyone can draw their own conclusions.

A survey by the Association of Federal Revenue Auditors of Brazil (Anfip), through the study "Analysis of Social Security," indicates that there is no deficit, but rather a surplus. That's right. The more attentive reader will ask: but didn't all the governments of the last 20 years talk about a deficit?

In 2006, the Social Security surplus was R$ 59,9 billion; 2007, R$ 72,6 billion; 2008, R$ 64,3 billion; 2009, R$ 32,7 billion; 2010, R$ 53,8 billion; 2011, R$ 75,7 billion; 2012, R$ 82,6 billion; 2013, R$ 76,2 billion; 2014, R$ 54 billion. The 2015 figures will soon be available.

These numbers are enlightening and categorically demonstrate that Social Security is viable. So much so that, after 15 years of hard work, we scored a major victory and managed to overturn the pension factor, and we approved the 85/95 formula for retirements.

Another issue that is not being taken into account. They want to extend the Union Revenue Detachment (DRU) until 2023, and increase from 20% to 30% the percentage that the government can withdraw from social resources. If the measure is approved, the loss to the Social Security coffers will be R$ 120 billion per year. How is it possible to give up this money?

I don't know what the intention is, but we cannot remain silent in the face of such measures. The country will not find its way to growth and development by withdrawing social and labor benefits.

Yes, there are measures that are convergent in society and that could be implemented immediately. Let's see: carrying out a broad tax reform, revising the federal pact, establishing an interest rate that stimulates the market without impoverishing the population, increasing the minimum wage, and combating corruption and tax evasion.

Moreover, according to the UN, Brazil loses R$ 200 billion annually to corruption. A study by the National Union of Tax Analysts of the Revenue Service indicates that the country loses R$ 100 billion annually to smuggling; in 2014, tax evasion reached R$ 500 billion; and in 2015, in the first semester alone, tax evasion amounted to R$ 258 billion. Does Brazil really need pension and labor reforms if all of this is being investigated?

The truth is that all of this money could be invested in health; education; public safety; roads for transporting production; airports; ports; social projects; and increasing the minimum wage and the benefits of retirees and pensioners.

There's an expression that Leonel Brizola used and that fits very well with the present day. When he saw that the situation was getting worse and that a storm was approaching, he would say: 'The cat's eye turned black.'