The year began with an attack on the working class: in 2017, for the first time in 15 years Brazilian workers had no real increase in the minimum wage: it went from R$880 to R$937, less than the R$945.80 envisaged in the budget.  

From 2007, the minimum wage was increased by the same percentage as the total of inflation in the previous year plus GDP growth of two years previously. This mechanism was what famously pulled millions of people out of poverty in the 12 years of Workers’ Party government.

As a result Brazil is going through a serious crisis, with the poor and their hopes as the main victims.