Newspaper report to Gerardo Martinez, UOCRA General Secretary in Página 12 Newspaper. During the interview, Gerardo Martinez expressed his pleasure for the sanction of Act 26494, which UOCRA has been fighting for 50 years, and he classified it “as a historical vindication for building workers”.

“It raises the status of workers”

Gerardo Martínez speaks about the law that will allow building workers’ retirement at 55 years old. He says this measure will contribute to providing more financing to the National Administration of Social Services [Anses] and the legalization of the employment status of the building workers.

By Sebastián Premici

This week, Argentine Government enacted the Act that will allow building workers’ retirement at 55 years old. At the same time, the measure raised employer’s contributions between the 2% and 5%. Presently, 800 building workers retire every year. Gerardo Martinez, Uocra General Secretary, in his interview with Página/12, declared that from now on building workers will have greater retirement perspective that could raise 30% per year. Furthermore, this measure will contribute to providing more financing to the National Administration of Social Services [Anses] and the legalization of the employment status of the building workers.

– How did we get to the point in which the law will allow building workers to retire 10 years earlier than other workers?
–We started working on this issue together with Sergio Massa – when he was in charge of the Anses- and with Carlos Tomada, Minister of Labour. We have signed an agreement to make progress on the technical aspects of an act that could allow building workers’ retirement at 55 years old, something Uocra had been asking for 50 years. This is not a privilege act, but it takes into account the fact that, due to the activities performed, the building worker suffers early ageing.
–This regulation gives a raise to employers’ contributions between the 2% and 5%. What was the reaction of the business sector?
–They have a very standardized speech and use to speak about employers’ contributions as a working tax. The private sector has to understand that social security is built everywhere. It is a basic equation, if there are not businessmen, there are not workers, and therefore everybody has to contribute. The act that has been already enacted, besides the smart card which came to replace the former Handbook of Unemployment Fund, raise the status of the building workers.

–Will this law contribute to the legalization of the employment status of the building workers?

–Necessity knows no bounds. Many times businessmen or contractors offer workers unregistered job, and tell them they are going to cash in hand. The building industry represents 5% of total salaries which contributes to the Social Security System (400,000 workers), but it is just the 0.05% of the total retired people (approximately 800 per year). So far, the building worker had no retirement perspectives – due to the hard job they perform- which drove workers to accept unregistered jobs. This Act is a tool for workers have the chance of retirement.
–¿Which are the figures of unregistered employment and how will this act influence the number of retired building workers?
–In order to achieve greater retirement, we are going to start a publicity campaign in all the union venues to make people aware of the importance of registered employment. We believe the number of retired people will increase gradually, at an average of 30 percent per year. As regards unregistered employment figures, there were times when 47% of workers had an irregular situation, but it decreased to 30% approximately. The number of inspectors in the streets, cross-checking and the publicity campaigns contributed to a culture change about this issue. Furthermore, the legalization of the employment status contributes to fair competition within the same trade, since many companies won the bidding process due to unregistered subcontracting, what is we want to eradicate.
–¿How does the global crisis affect the building sector?

–The Government adopted different resources and proposals so as to retain investments in the sector through public work and the construction of houses. When we talk to the businessmen, especially around Puerto Madero, Nordelta and Del Libertador Avenue, they say that most of the public work continues, but it is not known if there will be new works in the future.