President Lula Advocates New Policy to Raise Brazil's Minimum Wage
President Lula insists on adopting new policies to raise Brazil's minimum wage, linking wage growth to the country's GDP and criticizing opposition viewpoints.
- • President Lula supports new policies to increase minimum wage in Brazil.
- • He argues wage increases are justified by the country's GDP growth.
- • Lula criticizes opponents of wage hikes for fearing economic harm while spending extravagantly.
- • The discussion highlights income inequality between wealthy and poor citizens.
Key details
During the ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the minimum wage in Brazil held in Rio de Janeiro on January 16, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reaffirmed his commitment to enacting new policies that will increase the minimum wage. Lula emphasized that such increases are crucial for enabling the population to share in the benefits of Brazil's economic growth, as evidenced by rising GDP figures. "We will have to continue working to increase the minimum wage. What is the problem? The GDP is the result of the economic growth produced by the Brazilian people... it is fair that when the GDP grows, the workers' income also grows," he stated.
The president also criticized those opposing wage increases, noting the contradiction in fearing economic damage from raising the minimum wage while indulging in lavish spending. Lula remarked, "There are people who give a thousand reais in tips to drink whiskey and do not want to pay the poor the minimum wage. These people think they will break the country. Therefore, we need to face this debate."
This call by Lula comes amid ongoing discussions about income inequality, highlighting the stark contrast between Brazil's wealthiest citizens and those earning the minimum wage. His remarks underscore the push for economic policies that prioritize fairer wage distribution as part of broader social and economic reforms.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
