Monday, Charles Jean Jacques, the Minister of Social Affairs, answered in public session to the questions of members of the Senate Committee on Social Affairs concerning the assistance and social protection programs.

The Minister Charles explained to the senators that "the Ministry is currently working on several programs in its field of action. For now, there is a social plan that will be implemented in two parts : social assistance and social protection."

Stating that "[...] the social assistance program is the creation of 90 community restaurants across the country and sixty community bakery, which will also be distributed throughout the country [...] While that the social protection program, will consist to the construction of social housing and the establishment of health insurance for its citizens."

According to the Minister Jacques, these two programs will be permanently put in place by next September, stating that 20% of the investment budget of the Ministry, are dedicated to the implementation of these programs.

Asked about the progress in the implementation of the new minimum wage, the Minister explained that "Significant strides have been made in the implementation of the law on the minimum wage," according to him 16% of workers in the outsourcing sector, are already earning the minimum wage of 300 gourdes for 8 hours.

"These are people working with modern devices that receive the salary [...] This is due to the fact that others are working with obsolete machinery, they did not even pay that," also announcing to the Senators, hat negotiations are underway to allow employees to enjoy good food and transport.

Concerning the Superior Council of Salaries, the Minister indicated that 6 of the 9 members of the Council had been appointed and that he expected the names of the business sector. Regarding the Board of Directors of Bodies of Social Security, the Minister confirmed that the nine members were appointed [3 by the Executive, three by the labor sector and 3 by the business sector] and it remained only the publication of the names in the official newspaper "Le Moniteur".

Senators said they were satisfied with the explanation of the Minister on these issues.

Also in preparation for the celebration of agriculture and labor (1 May), Volmy Fils Desramaux, acting Director General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said Monday during a two-day conference-debate on the various activities of the Ministry, that the latter was being set up 3 restoration centers for nearly 15,000 people working in the manufacturing sector.

HL/ HaitiLibre