Thousands have taken to the streets of Sao Paulo to protest against a proposed constitutional amendment in Brazil.

Demonstrators also chanted slogans against President Michel Temer as they marched through Sao Paulo's central Paulista Avenue. The proposal would set caps on public spending over the next 20 years.  It would also track public spending to the inflation rate over a 20-year period, with the chance of a recalculated base-rate after 10 years.

Critics argue that education and health would be worst hit under the move.

"We are here fighting to put pressure on the Senate to block the passage of these measures just as Temer doesn't have the slightest conditions to govern. He's shown he doesn't have the slightest legitimacy to remain atop the presidency which was already illegitimate because of the coup and the complaints which have put the government on the hot seat. We aren't going to allow for these measures, which attack public services and workers' rights, to be approved," said Edson Carneiro Indio, secretary general, Intersindical Workers' Union.

"When we go out to the streets, the politicians start to tremble. They tremble from fear of the strength of the people. And it is this social pressure that we want to apply with the government and Congress and everything else," said Karina Vitral, president of National Students' Union.