BRASILIA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A new version of Brazil's controversial pension reform bill that lowered the minimum contribution period to receive a pension was presented to the Congress on Wednesday.
The proposal was presented by Arthur Maia, rapporteur for the pension reform in the Chamber of Deputies, to gain the two-thirds majority needed to pass the reform.
The new bill lowered the minimum contribution period to 15 years from 25 years in the previous draft.
The revamped bill maintains the same minimum retirement ages at 65 for men and 62 for women, which Maia said were "non-negotiable."
The bill also removed certain controversial changes, such as increasing the burden on rural workers.
What's more, the bill guarantees the right of widows of police officers to receive a full pension.
Maia said the bill may still change based on the demands of different sectors, but the rules for the public sector and general public must be unified.
Aguinaldo Ribeiro, leader of the official group in the Chamber, said the government must ensure that the people better understand the pension reform, including its improvements.
"I think these changes were very important, as we removed what doubts we had. I think that, from today, there will be an effect on those lawmakers who had or still have doubts about this text," he said.
The bill is scheduled to be put to a vote on Feb. 19. Critics say it will have an adverse impact on poor workers and those in physically demanding jobs.
