For PT member, people “never took seriously the need to improve the lives of the humblest people”
The president (PT) stated that the poor are “treated as invisible so that sociologists can write theses, so that politicians can make speeches”. According to him, “the need to improve the lives of the most humble people in the country” was never taken “seriously”.
The president participated, this Friday (16 January 2026), in the ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the creation of the minimum wage. The event was held at the Brazilian Mint, in Rio de Janeiro, with the presence of ministers Luiz Marinho (Labor and Employment) and Esther Dweck (Management and Innovation in Public Services).
Watch:
In the same speech, Lula said that, in Brazil, “education, health and salary are things for people who studied, who have money”.
Watch Lula’s speech:
THE EVENT
The president went to the Mint to participate in the official launch of the medals commemorating the 90th anniversary of Law 185, which established the minimum wage.
Implemented in 1936 on the initiative of President Getúlio Vargas (1930-1945 and 1951-1954), the minimum wage law aimed to promote social justice, reduce inequalities and encourage economic development in the country. The legislation was regulated 4 years later, on May 1, 1940.
THE MINIMUM WAGE
Currently, the minimum wage is R$ 1.621. on January 1, 2026.
The new value was informed after the release of the INPC (National Consumer Price Index), used to calculate the annual minimum wage adjustment. The indicator registered 0.03% in November and accumulated 4.18% in 12 months.
Data from the 2022 Census show that around 35 million Brazilians, almost 1/3 of workers, receive up to 1 minimum wage (R$1,621). Under the current rule, the annual adjustment is calculated by adding inflation to the increase in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) from 2 years before, limited to a ceiling of 2.5%.
