Brazilians Protest against President’s Reform Plan

Brazilian labor unions, government employees and rural workers held protests on Wednesday against proposed changes to work rules and aid for retired workers.
巴西的工会，政府人员和民工在星期三举行抗议，反对提议的对工作规则以及退休工人补助的改革。
One of the largest protests took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city.Bus and train service was affected.Small street demonstrations around the city slowed traffic.
规模最大的抗议活动之一发生在巴西最大的城市圣保罗。巴士和火车服务均受到了影响。城市周围小型的游行示威活动也阻碍了交通。
The Associated Press says traffic was slowed partly because of a partial transport strike that began Tuesday night.Later in the day, teachers, union members, and activists went into the streets of Sao Paulo to protest the proposed changes.
美联社说交通受阻部分是因为运输业星期二夜里开始的局部罢工。那天晚些时候，老师，工会会员以及激进分子进入圣保罗街道，对提议的改革表示抗议。
In Brasilia, the capital, over 1,500 protesters broke into the Finance Ministry’s offices and occupied it for several hours.
在巴西的首都巴西利亚，超过1500名的抗议者闯进财政部办公室，占用办公室好几个小时。
The demonstrators were protesting Brazilian President Michel Temer’s plan to change labor rules and the social security pension system.Critics are saying his plan would reduce job security for workers.They also say it would force many people to work longer to meet requirements for a pension.It would also reduce government aid for many retirees.
这些游行示威者反对巴西总统米歇尔·特梅尔改变劳动规章和养老保障体系的方案。反对者说他的这个方案将会降低工人的职业保障。他们还说该计划将会迫使很多人为了符合拿养老金的要求而工作更长的时间。它还会减少许多退休人员的政府补助。
The changes would give businesses fewer restrictions on employment.Companies would have the ability to set up longer, temporary agreements with workers.They could require longer work days and use more part-time workers.
这些改变将会减少企业招聘的限制。公司能够与工人达成更长或临时的协议。他们可以要求更多的工作日，使用更多的兼职。
The Reuters news service says President Temer and leading lawmakers have redoubled their support of the pension plan.They believe that limiting pension benefits and raising the retirement age are necessary to fix the country’s economic problems.
路透社消息称总统特梅尔和首席国会议员已经重申了他们对该养老金方案的支持。他们相信限制退休金和延长退休年龄对于解决国家的经济问题是很有必要的。
Brazil is currently in one of its worst recessions in more than a century.Temer says that without changes, the financial system could collapse.In a speech, he said his plan would keep Brazil from having to make the changes that European countries like Portugal and Greece were forced to make to rescue their economies.
巴西目前处于一个多世纪以来最严重的经济衰退期之一。总统特梅尔说如果不进行改革，经济系统将会崩溃。他在一次演讲中说他的方案将会使巴西免于被动改革。欧洲国家像波兰和希腊，就出现过这种情况，他们被迫进行改革以拯救经济。
On Wednesday, Moody’s Investors Service amended its ratings for Brazil’s sovereign credit rating from “negative” to “stable.”The service said it was making the change because of Brazil’s fiscal reforms.
星期三，穆迪投资者服务公司将巴西的主权信用评级从“负面”级别改为“稳定”。该服务公司说做出这样的调整是因为巴西的财政改革。
Moody’s said it expected the pension plan to pass Congress in the second half of 2017.And it said Latin America’s largest economy was preparing to end its deepest recession on record.Temer said Moody’s decision was a recognition of his government’s “efforts to recover credibility in the Brazilian economy.”
穆迪公司说他们期待该养老保险方案能在2017年下半年的国会上通过。穆迪公司还说拉丁美洲最大的经济体正在准备结束其有史以来最严重的的经济衰退。总统特梅尔说穆迪公司的决定是对他政府的努力的认可，他的政府在“努力恢复巴西经济的信誉”。
Moody’s last cut Brazil’s sovereign debt rating in February 2016,downgrading the country as then-President Dilma Rousseff struggled to keep public finances under control.
穆迪上次降低巴西的主权债务评级是在2016年2月，降低巴西的评级是因为当时的总统迪尔玛·罗塞夫一心要控制公众财政。
I’m Phil Dierking.
菲尔·迪尔金为您报道。