DC board deems Equity Council report "insufficient"

SANTIAGO.- While acknowledging the of value the work done by the Equity Council, the board of DC deputies expressed their disappointment that the report failed to include substantial structural proposals for ending inequality in Chile .  The board added that it would continue to pursue initiatives that it considers crucial in addressing the matter such as: tax reform, an increase in labor unions and stronger channels for collective negotiation.

This was the statement given by the board’s chief, Eduardo Saffiro, and sub-chief, Gonzalo Duarte, along with Deputies Carolina Goic and Patricia Vallespín, who added that they support measures such as the worker income subsidy, but said that “this should be directed towards the young workers, where unemployment nowadays is truly a curse”. 

Saffirio also stated that, despite the fact that they support the distribution of resources to children in the lowest of the five income groups as well as rewards for the best students, “this is insufficient and, once again, it puts emphasis on policies to fight poverty, handing out resources to targeted groups, yet does not make any real progress towards increased equality”. 

Concerning labor initiatives, the group said it will petition the inclusion of a proposal prohibiting the replacement of workers on strike, as well as changes to the bonus system and stronger channels for collective negotiation.