10 dead in pension change protests

Violent protests against a proposed change to Nicaragua’s pension system have left at least 10 people dead over two days, the government said Friday.

The new plan, under which workers and employers would have to chip in more toward the retirement system, has sparked the biggest protests in President Daniel Ortega’s 11 years in office. The new law, besides increasing contributions, would cut the overall pension amount by five per cent.

The government is willing to hold a dialogue, Rosario Murillo, the vice president, said.