Members of Brazil’s national congress have awarded themselves a 90.7 per cent pay rise, in a move that will undermine efforts to bring public spending under control.

In a closed meeting on Thursday evening, leaders of the lower house and senate agreed to increase their monthly wage from R$12,847 ($6,000) to R$24,500. The move is binding, requires no further vote in congress and will come into effect when legislators return from their year-end recess on February 1. Including expenses, staff salaries and extra payments, the minimum average monthly package for members of congress will rise to R$116,254.