30 August 2022 – 08:11
By Decree 551/2022, the details of the “Bridge to Employment” initiative were announced, the implementation of which had been anticipated by the Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa
The government published today the decree that establishes the guidelines for the execution of the “Bridge to Employment” program, which aims to transform 200,000 social plans into formal employment. The initiative had already been anticipated on Thursday August 18 by the Minister of the Economy, Sergio Massa, during his participation in the Council of the Americas.
Decree 551/2022, published in the Official Gazette, bears the signatures of President Alberto Fernández, Chief of Staff Juan Manzur and Ministers Sergio Massa (Economy), Claudio Moroni (Labour, Employment and Social Security), Juan Zabaleta (Social Development ). Through it, the objectives of the program have been established as well as the rules of application, the advantages, the exceptions and other details to be taken into account.
When does it start and what are its goals?
The six-page document provides that the project will come into effect on October 1, for a period of at least 24 months. It is described as a plan to be implemented gradually and with “federal criteria” to allow an orderly transition from social, educational and work employment programs to quality registered work.
Among its objectives, they propose the improvement of employability and the generation of new educational and productive proposals as well as “the promotion of the full social inclusion of people in situations of vulnerability”.
Who can participate and what options do they have?
With regard to the social programs included therein, the regulations specify: “The economic, labor and social development portfolios will be responsible for establishing guidelines for making registered work compatible with national social, educational and that grant monetary benefits aimed at individuals or family groups in a situation of social vulnerability, including workers in cooperatives and social organizations.
Once the worker decides to be part of the project, if the employment contract is interrupted, he will have the possibility of “continuing to receive the monetary allowances provided for by these programs, if the number of contributions to the social security system does not exceed 12 months”. In the event that the period worked is between 8 and 12 months, “workers will be able to choose between the possibility of remaining in the original program or of accessing unemployment benefits”.
Advantages and exclusions for employers
Once the introduction is made, the following articles of the decree explain the benefits that employers who are part of the initiative would obtain. Among them, the possibility of considering and imputing the monetary allowance of social, educational or employment programs under the payment of remuneration. This means that the amount of the social plan will be part of the salary and the employer will only have to pay the difference.
They will also obtain a 100% reduction in employer contributions, provided that they are framed by social security subsystems such as the Argentine Integrated Social Security System (SIPA), the National Institute of Social Services for Pensioners and pensioners, the National Employment Fund and family allowances.
Excluded are those who appear on the Public Register of Employers with Labor Sanctions or who engage in abusive and/or abusive practices. It will be the Ministries of Economy and Labour, Employment and Social Security that will determine under which contractual modality the two advantages can be applied.
Selection process
The employer selection process will take place through the “job portal”. If the guidelines set by the decree are not respected, at the time of contracting, “the benefits granted will decrease”.
In the last sections of the document, “the provinces, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the municipalities are invited to adhere to the terms of this decree or to dictate measures of the same tenor to reconcile local social, educational and employment programs with saved programs work.
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