Uruguay
COFE Questioned Lacalle Pou’s Speech and Denounced Cuts to Salaries, Pensions and Public Employment
The Confederation of State Employees rejected the president’s defense of his administration before the General Assembly. In a statement, it said the government affected workers, retirees and lower-income sectors.
The Confederation of State Employees (COFE) questioned the speech Luis Lacalle Pou delivered before the General Assembly and stated that, contrary to what the president said, the government did hurt the pockets of workers, retirees, pensioners and lower-income sectors, according to 970 Universal.
According to that outlet, the organization also denounced a “dismantling of the State” and noted that the president himself mentioned in Parliament a reduction of nearly 5,000 labor ties with the State between 2021 and 2020, and of more than 8,000 compared with 2019.
Among its criticisms, COFE reviewed Decree 090/020 of March 11, 2020, which it said imposed a spending adjustment in the Central Administration and a cap of 85% on the 2020 budget execution over the credits committed in 2019 for operations and investments, 970 Universal reported.
The confederation also said the government limited the coverage of vacancies and restricted the renewal of temporary contracts, a decision that, in its view, puts thousands of jobs at risk and affects the provision of public services.
COFE added that the loss of wages is greater than officially acknowledged because of its cumulative effect and stated that there was also a cut in pensions and retirement benefits, as they were adjusted below inflation during the two years of administration, according to the statement cited by 970 Universal.
The organization also criticized the reduction in the VAT refund for debit card purchases, from 4% to 2%, and questioned the fuel adjustment mechanism approved in the LUC, considering that it drives inflation and deepens the loss of wages and pensions.
In its message, COFE contrasted that situation with that of the so-called “malla oro,” whom it accused of concentrating most of the wealth and of continuing to increase their income and assets without having been reached by the adjustment measures, according to 970 Universal.
Sources
Sobre esta nota. Redactada por El Notero con asistencia de inteligencia artificial, a partir de lo publicado por el medio citado. El Notero no hizo reporteo propio sobre este hecho.
