While diagramming the post-pandemic plan, the Government agreed to pay in August the fourth stage of the ATP

Ignacio Ortelli

07/20/2020 - 18:47

• Clarín.com
• Politics

Although politically committed to advancing a post-pandemic plan on the agenda, the Government knows that it must resolve the emergency. And this Monday it agreed to pay in August for the fourth stage of the Work and Production Assistance Program to help private companies cope with wages .

This was confirmed to Clarín by high government sources, after the economic cabinet meeting that took place this Monday in Casa Rosada. 

As it had already decided for the payments for the month of June - paid this month -, the new stage of the ATP will once again be marked by the new normality to which the Government intends to advance. In other words, it will be implemented according to the geographical area in which each company is installed. Thus, in those cities and provinces where Social, Preventive and Compulsory Isolation prevails, it will cover up to two vital and mobile minimum wages.

Meanwhile, in those in which Social, Preventive and Mandatory Distances prevail, the coverage will be a vital and mobile minimum wage.

Although he already had the approval of Alberto Fernández, he finished polishing at a summit headed by the chief of staff, Santiago Cafiero; in the Hall of Scientists, where the ministers Martín Guzmán (Economy), Claudio Moroni (Work) and Matías Kulfas (Productive Development) converged; the head of the AFIP; Mercedes Marcó del Pont; and the president of the Central Bank; Miguel Pesce.

At the end of the appointment, spokespersons from the Chief of Staff assured that finally at the meeting no further steps were made for the post-pandemic plan , but confirmed that in August the companies will again have state aid to pay wages. The logic will continue to be prioritizing SMEs: with the implementation of the ATP, the Government benefited 98 percent of the companies that have up to 100 employees.

According to official data, 93.4% of the companies that receive ATP have up to 25 employees , and generate 39.6% of the total registered employment. And only 0.1% have 800 workers.

On the other hand, in what has to do with the exit of the economic crisis, the economic Cabinet, Cafiero heard a similar message to the proposal made by the mayors of Together for Change Jorge Macri (Vicente López), Diego Valenzuela ( Tres de Febrero) and Julio Garro (La Plata): the importance of public works for the reactivation was pointed out .

In this sense, official spokesmen stressed that the Ministry of Public Works, in charge of Gabriel Katopodis, ordered in July the reactivation of works on 150 routes throughout the country, in addition to the federal plan Argentina Makes it deployed in 2,300 municipalities.

The Economic Cabinet will follow with special attention the process of the bill of extension of the moratorium . Kulfas considers the tool to oxygenate companies in the midst of the crisis key. The head of the Chamber of Deputies, Sergio Massa; It trusts the support of sectors of the opposition to give a quick treatment to the initiative that extends to all taxpayers the possibility of regularizing past due debts until June 30.