Chile demos demand pension withdrawal bill approval

in Chile, hundreds of demonstrators staged a protest on Tuesday in favour of a planned law that would allow people to withdraw some of their pension funds early, to help them cope with the current economic crisis. They blocked the main roads of the capital Santiago and tried to reach the presidential palace. Police dispersed the demonstrators using tear gas and water cannon.

The planned law, proposed by the opposition, would enable people to take up to 10% of their pension before their normal retirement date. This would be the second such measure; the first was approved in July last year. The presidency opposes the plan, which is to be debated in the Senate on Wednesday. Chile's unemployment rate has almost tripled since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.