The President’s speech focused on post-pandemic economic reactivation and the need to transform sectors of national life to contribute to that goal, particularly education, health, the labor market and the defense of priority productive sectors.
In this sense, he again defended the implementation of the plan to support Chile, which aims to boost the domestic economy through investments of more than $3,700 million and the creation of half a million jobs.
The initiative is already being implemented and is expected to be operational for the next 60 days, according to the Chilean President, to help the country’s families combat rising living costs, self-consumption and encouraging new ventures.
Along with these stimuli, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to curbing the rise in prices for services and products such as public transport and fuel.
The first will have fixed tariffs for the rest of the year, and for fuel, the price stabilization mechanism will be strengthened, while the price stabilization mechanism for domestic consumption will remain stable with the injection of funds from the state treasury.
Another important point in the president’s intervention is the increase in the minimum wage, the highest in two decades, he assured.
According to what is classified as a “historic” agreement between the government, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores and small and medium-sized businesses, the increase in the minimum wage will amount to 400,000 pesos (about $484 at the current exchange rate) and will take effect from August next year.
The changes proposed for the health sector have also raised expectations that, according to the president, correspond to the claim of strong public health “in which nobody has to wait years for surgery or appropriate care”.
As a result, the Chilean government proposed the creation of a universal health fund, a plan to eliminate surgical waiting lists, and the construction of community mental health centers, among other initiatives.
Boric also referred to the controversial issue of euthanasia, defending it as his compatriots’ right to a dignified death.
The government is proposing urgent processing of a bill that would make explicit, free and informed consent a requirement.
In his speech to the National Congress (bicameral parliament), the President announced other proposals with a high social impact, such as reducing working hours to 40 hours a week.
Also the reduction of student debt, a comprehensive strengthening plan for the public education system, a tax reform and a new social pact with the indigenous population.
car/avs