Venezuela Expands Scope of Social Security http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/may/06/latinamerica100060502.htm

About 100 thousand Venezuelans will benefit from a decree to grant old-age pension to those with the required age without the 750 contributions demanded, parliamentary sources reported.Rafael Rios, president of the Social Development committee of the National Assembly informed that this figure will be added to the 1472 000 people who currently receive their retirement.

In statements to Venezolana de Television, Rios also stressed the benefit of special old-age pensions decreed by President Hugo Chavez to fishermen and farmers, who were not included.

In this regard, he qualified the measure as an act of vindication of disadvantaged groups from the viewpoint of social security.He recalled that recently it was determined that those receiving survivors' pensions of retirees may charge a sum equivalent to the minimum wage, instead of a percent as it was before, which will benefit other 191 000 people.