Ismael Bermúdez
06/01/2020 - 20:48
- Clarín.com
- Economy
- Economy
Between January and March of this year, 35,009 registered workers dismissed without cause obtained unemployment benefit, a record figure for the first quarter of the year in a series that starts in 2013 . In the same period of 2019, 33,494 unemployed people obtained that benefit, according to Social Security data.
By activity, 7,732 workers had worked in industry, 6,804 in commerce, 5,825 in construction and the rest in other service sectors.
This increase in unemployment insurance payments occurred despite the fact that since December 13 of last year and for 180 days, according to DNU 34/2019, double compensation governs dismissals without cause . Then, as of March 31, it was reinforced with the direct prohibition of layoffs "without just cause and for the reasons of lack or reduction of work and force majeure" for 60 days, extended another 60 days (until the end of July).
At the end of March, this benefit was collected by 115,617 registered or “blank” dependency workers who were dismissed without cause. Of that total, 81,579 are men and 32,898 women who received an average benefit of $ 5,412 . The amount is low because this benefit has, since October of last year, a ceiling of $ 6,280.28 and a floor of 70%, which represents $ 4,396.20. Then, decree 376/2020 of April 19 raised the amounts to a minimum of $ 6,000 and a maximum of $ 10,000.
Those reached by this benefit - 60% are between 30 and 49 years old - receive family allowances and are covered by social work, while the period for collecting the benefit is recognized as months of retirement services. The bulk of those who are collecting unemployment benefit have between 1 and 2 children or are single without children.
Instead, they are not entitled to receive the $ 10,000 bonus from IFE (Emergency Family Income).
Official data shows that since 2015, when 92,215 workers obtained this benefit, there has been a continuous rise thanks to the recession and the advancement of informal work and greater precariousness through the Monotributo. The following year they were 134,012, in 2017 they added 140,804, in 2018 it rose to 156,644 and in 2019 it amounted to 164,722.
On the other hand, the Government extended until August 31 the maturities of the unemployment benefits previously approved until May 31 and those that occur between May 1 and July 31, according to Resolution No. ° 228 of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security.
The extension is due to the fact that this insurance is temporary, whether or not the unemployed person obtains a new job, of decreasing amount and is interrupted if the beneficiary obtains employment, something more than difficult to achieve with the semi-paralysis of economic activity.
Thus, who was fired without cause with a seniority of between 6 and 11 months has the right to collect this benefit for 2 months. With a length of between one year and 23 months, it will charge for 4 months. The term extends to 8 months if that worker was between 2 years and 35 months old and up to 12 months for those who were 3 years old or more. And the collection automatically extends for a period of 6 months if you are over 45 years old.
From the 5th quota the amount to be charged is reduced to 85% of the current value and from the 8th quota to 70%, now with the floor of $ 6,000.