Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's proposed overhaul of the country's pension system sparks a nationwide strike and protests
Bolsonaro's ambitious overhaul of Brazil's pension system - which he has warned will bankrupt the country if his proposal is not approved - is seen as key to getting a pipeline of economic policies through Congress.
Some metro lines in Sao Paulo were paralysed ahead of the game at the city's Morumbi stadium where police sharpshooters will be deployed as part of increased security for the competition.More than 100 cities have been affected by the stoppage, with more than 180 recording demonstrations, the G1 news site reported.
Demonstrators earlier blocked some roads in several cities, including Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, where police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators and clear the streets, G1 reported."This current government wants to destroy everything that we built decades ago so that's why I'm in favour and I am fighting against social inequality," Vania Santos, 49, told AFP in Rio.
A pared-back draft of the reform presented to Congress on Thursday – which reduces expected savings from 1.2 trillion reais in 10 years to around 900 billion reais – did little to appease union leaders. "The commitment to the public servants of the legislature appears greater," he was quoted by G1 as saying.
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