Salvadorans Protest Against President Bukele’s Budget Cuts For Health And Education
White March against President Nayib Bukele’s policies, Oct. 9, 2024. X/ @RenGarc61723279
October 19, 2024 Hour: 5:28 pm
The right-wing politician seeks to satisfy IMF conditionalities by implementing adjustment policies.
On Saturday, thousands of citizens took to the streets of San Salvador to protest against cuts to the Health and Education budgets, the freezing of salary benefits, and the reduction of jobs.
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On September 30, President Nayib Bukele sent the 2025 budget bill to Congress. Compared to last year, his proposal involves a reduction of US$970 million, with cuts of US$34 million for education and US$92 million for health.
“We are fully aware that the entire working class is being affected and will be even more affected,” said Sonia Viñarta of the National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers. In her view, these cuts are an acceptance by the Salvadoran government of recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with whom they have been negotiating since 2021 to secure a loan of US$1.4 billion.
If the 2025 fiscal year budget is approved, around 11,000 public sector jobs would be eliminated. Additionally, the Bukele administration would not implement salary adjustments to compensate health and education workers for their years of service.
“The outlook is not easy, which is why I’ve said that the enemy we face is the IMF’s prescription, and we regret that the government has decided to make the working class bear the cost of that prescription, rather than politicians and powerful economic groups,” Viñarta emphasized.
Workers gathered at the World’s Divine Child Savior square and marched several kilometers toward the vicinity of Rosales National Hospital, the country’s most important hospital. Participants in the so-called “white march” wore shirts with messages such as “Don’t touch my pay scale.”
“There’s not enough money because they’re stealing it,” “Too much police, too little education,” and “One teacher for 40 students, one doctor for 300 patients, and 40 bodyguards for a corrupt official” were some of the messages seen during the White March.
The protest was attended by members of the Health Workers’ Union (SITRASALUD), the National Health Forum (FNS), the Movement of Dismissed Workers, and the Salvadoran Teachers’ Front.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
