El Ciudadano
Original article: CUT denuncia que la derecha aprobó rebaja del sueldo mínimo para mayores de 65 años: de $539.000 a $415.000
The Chilean Workers’ Central Union (CUT) has made a strong accusation against the government of José Kast and right-wing lawmakers following the approval in the Finance Committee of a measure that reduces the minimum wage for individuals aged 65 and older by approximately 25%, decreasing it from $539,000 to only $415,000.
In a statement shared on social media, CUT denounced the measure as «a direct hit to human dignity» and warned that it exacerbates the precarious conditions already faced by those in unfavorable labor situations. «This is nothing more than a favor granted to wealthy employers at the expense of our elders,» the statement indicated.
The multi-union organization also criticized the government for endorsing a minimum wage increase that they consider «entirely insufficient» to meet the real needs of working families. «However, the most serious and unacceptable aspect is the specific reduction for seniors,» emphasized the CUT.
The union highlighted that many seniors are forced to continue working due to a lack of adequate pensions, and this new regulation further aggravates their situation. «Elderly individuals who already face precarious working conditions will now see their incomes diminished,» they reported.
«Today being an elderly person will be a punishment»
David Acuña, the CUT’s Vice President of Communications, stated that with the insufficient minimum wage proposal, Kast’s administration «once again turns its back on workers.»
«The adjustment presented by the government is inadequate and fails to meet the real needs of thousands of Chilean families and workers,» he indicated.
«We believe that the rising cost of living and fuel prices have created a crisis brought on by the government. This is a crisis that we are facing and will continue to confront as workers. The government is failing to assist Chilean families; however, we are even more concerned about the measure approved today to lower wages for those over sixty-five,» he asserted at a press conference.
«Today, if you are over 65 years old, if this is approved in Parliament, you will earn less money. Why? Because of a state provision that will make being elderly a punishment. This government is punishing senior citizens,» the union leader warned.
In the same vein, Karen González, head of the CUT’s Commerce Division, described the measure as «undignified.»
«We cannot accept this kind of precariousness towards the elderly. This government is only doing favors for wealthy employers,» she argued.
She reminded that numerous elderly workers are employed in commercial establishments across the country, «who are now going to suffer this wage loss.»
«This also impacts the workers maintaining public spaces and those employed in cleaning companies. Many are over sixty-five years old, are in precarious jobs, and are not meeting minimum conditions; they are the most affected. Today, this government is reducing wages for the elderly,» she stated in a video released by the CUT.
Representatives Barrera and Brito Decry Kast’s Government for Impoverishing Workers
Following the vote in the Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies concerning the minimum wage project, Deputy Boris Barrera (PC) expressed regret that the government «only sees this as numbers and not the reality that all workers are living today, who have faced increased living costs due to rising fuel prices and a series of measures that have significantly raised the cost of the basic basket and everything related to survival.»
«We also lament that this is happening under conditions of a bulldozer approach, as we have often described, where there is no agreement with workers, and even ministers did not attend the Committee to listen to them, demonstrating once again that this government only seeks to benefit the wealthiest in Chile while showing tremendous disdain for workers,» he stated.
Meanwhile, Deputy Jorge Brito (FA) argued that the economic mismanagement by Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz and President Kast is impoverishing Chile.
«They will not create jobs by providing fair wages to the country’s workers while impoverishing the working class; Chile will not prosper. The proposal approved in the Finance Committee should have been improved, but that’s the government’s prerogative, and they were not open to doing so,» he questioned.
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