He proposed merging the BROU and the BHU, turning the Post Office into a non-state public entity, modifying labor laws so that workers can organize their schedules on a weekly basis, and proposed secret voting in unions.
He pointed out against the Broad Front: “Herrera supporters believe in creating jobs, not in raising taxes, in a state that facilitates, not in a state that burdens us with costs, and in continuing to move forward and not turning back.”
In a new Congress that brought together some 500 leaders from all over the country, the Herrera party received the National Party formula this Saturday, July 27. During the event, economist Laura Raffo was in charge of presenting the measures that the sector will promote in view of the October elections.
“We are liberals,” Raffo exclaimed, and stressed that the Herrera government wants to “go all the way” with the reforms. He then listed a series of measures to make Uruguayans freer in managing their income and purchases, in negotiating labor agreements, in dealing with the state, and in paying less taxes.
At the end, Raffo spoke directly to the National Party candidate Alvaro Delgado: “Álvaro, you can count on this great Herrera team to give the National Party a new victory in October and November.”
And he pointed at the Broad Front: “Unlike the Broad Front, the Herreristas believe in generating employment, not in raising taxes, in a state that facilitates, not in a state that burdens us with costs and complicates things for us, and in continuing to advance and not turning back.”
Measures proposed by Raffo
1. Reduction of the country’s cost and cost of living through automatic liberalization of imports on all products that are already registered and marketed in the country.
a. All personal hygiene products (soap, toothpaste, diapers). Today there are overprices of up to 300% compared to the region due to import restrictions.
b. Agricultural inputs such as agrochemicals and glyphosate, which have long delays and are overpriced.
c. Inputs for industry and construction that increase the price of housing
d. Liberalization of the import, distribution and marketing of fuels
2. Modernization of labor relations
a. New law that computes hours worked weekly and not daily
b. New law that allows splitting leave without a minimum number of days
c. Secret ballot for the election of union authorities and for voting on a strike
d. Removal of wage advice for small or financially troubled businesses
3. Reduction of bureaucracy: one-stop shops, deadlines that expire in favor of the person who initiates the procedure and approvals are automatic
a. Automatic approval of investment projects by COMAP, with subsequent monitoring one year later.
b. Positive silence from the administration. Once the deadline for a procedure has expired, it is automatically approved.
4. Sharp reduction in public spending through the merger of state companies and entities, and the creation of non-state public entities.
a. Merge BROU and BHU to unify administrative, logistics and branch areas.
b. Move AFE to the Ministry of Transport. Today it receives a subsidy of USD 15 million per year.
c. Unify the operations of more than 10 entities dedicated to housing policy and which employ 1,800 employees. Transfer the National Housing Agency to the Ministry of Housing. Today it receives a subsidy of USD 20 million per year.
d. Unify and merge the operations of more than 11 entities that promote SMEs (dinapyme, ANDE, LATU, etc.) with more than 1,200 employees.
e. Transform El Correo into a non-state public entity. Today it receives an annual subsidy of USD 40 million.
f. Centralize administrative tasks in the State to reduce costs, such as the settlement of salaries
5. Tax cuts thanks to reduced public spending
a. Less taxes on work: reduction of contributions to make hiring employees cheaper. Total exemption for new positions worth less than 30,000 pesos.
b. Priority in reducing VAT on diesel. For every 1% reduction in central government operating expenses, 3% of VAT on diesel can be reduced.
Laura Raffo’s press team report
The entrance Raffo at the Herrerismo Congress: “The defense of freedom will be our beacon” was first published in The Digital Echo.
