Open Town Hall (CA) continues to demand its conditions to vote in favor of the social security reform in Parliament despite the constant attempts at negotiation by his partners in the government coalition, who intend to comply with the president’s lowering of the line Luis Lacalle Pou: that the reform in Uruguay be approved by March 31.
The panorama does not seem encouraging for the part of the ruling party that wants to strictly comply with the reformist agenda that the president promised and that, being so close to fulfilling it, seems increasingly distant. It is that the Open Cabildo seems to give more headaches than the opposition itself, stubborn that its modifications be taken into account for the project or it will not give its votes, necessary to reach the majority in the Low camera.
Although on Tuesday they managed to bring positions closer between the sector led by Guido Manini Rios and the other legislators of the coalition, quickly the same deputies that make up the Special Commission for the treatment of the reform they denied that an agreement had been reached to guarantee the approval of the law.
In this sense, the first to deny the arrival at a common port was Alvaro Perrone, that he posted on his account Twitter “There is no type of agreement for social security reform” and that “profound changes and more time for discussion” continue to be demanded. The lobbyists intend, on the one hand, to extend the discussion deadlines for a more in-depth debate; and, on the other, to lower the amount of contributions considered for the retirement calculation.
Although the Executive Branch ruled out both concessions from the outset —the first, because it aims to vote on the reform as soon as possible, to support the electoral platform on the fulfillment of one of the most important campaign promises; and the second, because it is not compatible in fiscal terms with the other modifications—, CA insist. Especially with the change in the pension calculation, what they understand as a non-negotiable point if the government intends to vote on the project in due time.
On Wednesday, March 29, in an extraordinary session, it will be decided whether the social security reform will be voted on on the 31st or if, finally, The debate will be extended for 15 more days. The lobbyists are sure that the date will depend on whether the requested modifications were incorporated or not.
The changes announced by the government
One of the outstanding points among the changes announced by the Executive Branch to the social security reform project is the adjustment of the limits and guarantees of investments abroad by Pension Savings Fund Administrators (AFAP) to reduce your risks.
Others changes that will be incorporated are the extension of the pension for widowhood, the revision of the required years of marriage and concubinage for management of the pension cause and the incorporation of articles on situations of disability. Likewise, the possibility of incorporating the concerns expressed by organizations linked to the issue of disability will be considered; and the reduction of the required years of residence for migrants to access the right to a pension.
“The general architecture of the project has not been modified. and it is what guarantees that we have a result of fiscal sustainability and equity and, at the same time, we ratify the comprehensive nature of the reform”, assured, in this regard, the Minister of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), Pablo Mieres.
Source: Ambito
