In an effort to woo more voters with ideas related to early childhood and the declining birth rate, Alvaro Delgadocandidate of the National Partyrecently launched the Families Plan. This plan, with an allocation of 200 million dollarsseeks to transform and improve the social panorama of the country, focusing on both the most economically affected sectors and the middle class.
According to Delgado, the proposal is “innovative and viable”, with a well-defined financial model, aimed especially at poorest sectors and the middle class. The coordinator of the technical team of the National Party, Augustin Iturraldedescribes the plan with three key objectives: improving the living conditions of early childhood, increasing the birth rate, and reducing social segregation in terms of births, which are currently concentrated mostly in low-income levels.
The Families Plan, Delgado says, is designed to provide immediate relief and foster a healthier, more sustainable environment for families in the long term. The proposal, its proponents argue, aims not only at social change, but also at the country’s economic and demographic stability.
The Alvaro Delgado Family Plan: the proposals
One of the most discussed aspects of this plan is the expansion of care in care centers, presented by Cecilia Senanational director of the Ministry of Social DevelopmentThis suggestion seeks to extend the time of care in these centers from 4 to 6 hours for those who need it, thus increasing support for working families.
In addition, it is proposed triple the parenting bonusas part of the legislation of AccountabilityThis increase ensures that no pregnant woman in critical situations is excluded from the social protection system, strengthening the safety net for the most vulnerable families.
Rodolfo Saldainthe main advisor on social security reform, argues that current conditions need to be changed. The proposal includes an extension and flexibility of maternity leave, allowing female workers to opt for a longer leave than 90 days with a salary increase of 80% instead of 100%. This flexibility seeks to stop the decline in birth rates.
It is also proposed that Creation of a leave for caredivided equally between parents, of up to 10 days per year for the care of children up to 3 years of age. This new leave aims to support families in their parental responsibilities, allowing for a more balanced sharing of care between father and mother.
Fernanda Auesperg, director of social protection at Mides, highlighted the importance of expanding the network of reference centers for social policies. These centers, inspired by the Casavalle model, are planned to be established in areas such as Malvín Norte, San Carlos, Las Piedras, and Treinta y Tres.
