Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS) defended at the Plenary, on Friday (16), the adoption of an unified minimum wage to Mercosul as well as a single labor and welfare law for the country members of the block. Paim said that, as he defends free circulation for the workers and also their services’ recognition by Mercosul governments, he should also fight for the unification of both legislations.

In what concerns the minimum wage, Paim informed that, in 2005, its value was US$ 116 in Brazil and US$ 155 in Argentina. In Uruguay, it was U$ 81 and in Paraguay it was US$ 139. Paim defends the wage unification at its highest value. He still proposed union freedom and autonomy, even in collective negotiations involving workers from all the countries members of the block.    

- We count on workers’ participation to elaborate Mercosul strategies, by means of a dialogue, and also that they take part in negotiations with other world blocks - said Paim, for whom Mercosul must go beyond trade and also include social and cultural dimensions, including issues such as income distribution and job creation.