1996-12-05 Local Press - ECONOMY
Article Index
ECONOMY
Minimum Wage Increase Insufficient
On December 3, the minimum wage was increased 17%, bringing it to N$26.45 pesos (about $3,30) per day in zone A (the region with the highest minimum wage). Workers protested that once again the increase is unlikely to keep up with inflation, but the leadership of official labor unions went along with the government's proposal. This is the second increase this year (the first was an increase of 14.3% in April). Nevertheless, it is insufficient to cover most price increases. (Reforma, 2 December).
Anti-Poverty Program to be Initiated
The federal government announced that it will spend N$1.35 billion (approximately $170 million) on the Food, Health and Education Program (PASE) in 1997. The program is expected to support 400,000 families who live in extreme poverty in ten states of the Republic, It will be coordinated by the Secretariat for Social Development (Sedesol), but will also include the participation of the Secretariats of Health and Education. By the year 2000, the government expects the program to reach four million families. In addition, the government will spend N$12.65 billion ($1.5 billion dollars) on ongoing anti-poverty programs, which represents a 4.6 percent reduction in real terms compared with 1996. (La Jornada, 27 November; Reforma. 1 December)