Arim: “Social dialogue must define policies that contemplate heterogeneity of Uruguay”
“Uruguay needs and must have an informed discussion that measures social protection throughout the entire life cycle in an integral and organic way,” The director of the Planning and Budget Office, Rodrigo Arim.
The head of the Office of Planning and Budget (OPP), Rodrigo Arim, presented on the opening day of the seminar cycle evidence to rethink social protection, in the Executive Tower.
He recalled that life expectancy increased in Uruguay and society is made up of more old people. In that sense, he argued that the policies that are applied should not be the same, but must be formulated based on the health states of each person or the characteristics of the work they develop.
As he explained, to design the correspondences must be defined regarding what policies, for what stages of life and under what conditions. This, in addition, must be careful of economic sustainability, must be a support for the future development of Uruguay, he stressed.
He analyzed that Uruguayan politics has not been omisible regarding innovations and exemplified by mentioning that the most recent was the Social Security reform approved in the last five -year period, as well as the Ministry of Social Development, the Equity Plan or the National Care System.
He reiterated that it is the time, from the Executive Power, to look at social protection in an integral and organic way. “Uruguay has the possibility and duty to build a social protection system that is consistent, in terms of the instruments that occur throughout the life cycle and the ability to access adequate protection levels, depending on the vital conditions,” he said.
Population decrease and aging
For his part, the Director of the National Statistics Institute (INE), Marcelo Bisogno, presented the population projections and estimates prepared by the agency from the results of Census 2023 and recalled the importance of being contemplated in public policy.
The number of inhabitants will continue to decrease over the next few years, and aging will be the dominant feature of the Uruguayan future. The number of people from 65 years and older will maintain the growth trend initiated in recent decades and will change, according to the projections, from 553,000 people in 2024 to 990,000 in 2070.
Meanwhile, longevity will advance, due to the increase in life expectancy at birth, while a lower amount of births will correspond to the reduction of the number of women in the ages of greatest fertility, Bisogno reported.
First seminar of the evidence to rethink social protection
The coordinator of the Executive Commission of the Social Dialogue, Hugo BaiHe said that this first meeting includes the beginning of a stage of compilation of supplies, with contributions from society, and said that it will also be nourished by conversations and hearings.
He added that the day provided important supplies, in the search for agreements related to the changes that the country needs in the matter.
Central axes of discussion addressed:
- Changes linked to childhood protection.
- Care system.
- Activity protection system.
- Instrumented changes in the previous period on the retirement and pension regime.
