Yesterday, the high temperatures did not prevent older adults, former Itaipu workers, from demonstrating to claim their unpaid benefits.
It should be remembered that they have a commitment from Mario Abdo Benítez for more than a year to provide a solution to their requests. Hundreds of people mobilized, some in front of Congress and others in front of the hydroelectric plant (Hernandarias, Alto Paraguay).
These are former workers of contracting companies and subcontractors of works, landlords and sub-locators of services that were awarded for the construction of the Hydroelectric Power Plant and who are grouped together in the National Union of Former Workers of Itaipu Binational Right Bank (UNETIB-MD).
Carlos González, coordinator of Former Itaipu Workers and Contractors, also a member of UNETIB-MD, was at the demonstration held at the dam’s headquarters. He reported that the mobilization will resume this Tuesday, February 1 and will be permanent.
“We have the commitment of the President of the Republic to take to Itaipu our claim request. In addition, on Tuesday we are going to deliver more documents, ”he said.
BENEFITS
Specifically, the demonstrators demand labor benefits that the Itaipu binational never paid them. These are food vouchers, productivity benefits, vacation bonuses, regional bonuses, among others. As a result of this situation, some 16,000 former Itaipu employees were affected.
In other words, the former officials demand the same payment that the workers on the Brazilian side received at the time. The difference between the two was G. 10 million approximately. Therefore, for the binational to meet the demands, it must pay around that amount for each month worked by each of the protesters. For this purpose, it needs at least US$ 2,000 million, according to information handled by the same authorities of the dam.
COMMUNICATION FROM ITAIPU
Binational authorities published a statement at the time as a result of this situation. They affirm that the problem has already been resolved in jurisdiction, where the demands of the aforementioned workers have been rejected in all instances, including by the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ).
The statement also highlights that Parliament rejected a bill that proposed the recognition of these benefits in 2013.
“Itaipu’s position on the unfeasibility of what was proposed was always categorical, establishing that the claims are time-barred and are documented in numerous opinions issued by the Entity’s Legal Department, for the same reason,” reads part of the announcement.
Finally, they allege that, due to the Reversal Notes approved in 2000, the joint and several liability established in a binational protocol that Itaipu initially had was rendered null and void.
RESIGNATION OF THE DIRECTOR
Another relevant news from the binational was the resignation of the Brazilian director of the Itaipú binational hydroelectric plant, Army Reserve General Joao Francisco Ferreira. The argument was “personal reasons”. He left before completing a year in office (he took office in April 2021). In his place, Admiral Anatalicio Risden, who was financial director, took over.
