a group of workers belonging to businesses in Punta Shopping and Tienda Inglesa met last Friday in an assembly to assess the labor situation after the fire that affected the main shopping center in Punta del Este.
The leader of the Union of Workers of the English Store, Sandra Campero, valued the decision of the Executive Power to implement a special unemployment insurance for 50% of the salaries currently received, but stressed the need for other complementary measures to be adopted.
“The purpose was also to call attention to the businessmen of Punta Shopping so that they put their hands on their hearts, and put themselves in the shoes of those workers who from one day to the next see their economy decline. It is an unforeseen event that changes their lives,” Campero told Fm Gente.
“If it is difficult to make ends meet with 100% —of salary—, much more so with 50%. There are people who pay rent or have their bills, people who are paying loans to the Housing Agency. In the case of Tienda Inglesa we have entire families working in the same company and it is the only income”, he pointed out.
The leader reported that the company was asked to continue receiving an item of $510 a week despite the fact that the supermarket was not open, to which rotating unemployment insurance and advanced licenses were added.
On the other hand, a statement from the PIT-CNT affirmed on Friday that the average of the subsidies that the shopping officials will receive is $14,000, and asked the Executive Power for “complementary actions” that allow “a greater income.”
The leader of Fuecys Maldonado, César Teijón, affirmed that although some companies are relocating to different areas of Punta del Este and Maldonado, it is only about those that have “liquidity” and “support”.
Teijón added that it should be taken into account that the possibility of many workers accessing new jobs at this time of year is difficult, and the prospects for the next summer season are not even known, according to Maldonado Noticias.
As explained by the leader, it is considered that those companies that have full insurance are going to recover at least the losses generated by the fire, for which it is hoped that the government can increase the percentage of special unemployment insurance “which clearly It is insufficient”.
