Argentina: Senate presented a complaint about Ley de Fomento a PyMES (Financing of PyMES Act)

On Thursday 29, 150 people with disabilities from Buenos Aires and the provinces marched in front of the Senate to show their opposition to the financing of PyMES with moneys from the disabilities budget. The activity was supported by 68 countrywide organizations.

During the previous evening (June 28), representatives from the Red por los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (Disability Rights Network - REDI) expressed their points of view at the Senate's PyMES Commission's Public Hearing. These same ideas were expressed at an afternoon hearing at the Senate Committee on Disability, and during the rally.

Speaking for REDI, Eduardo Joly - a Steering Committee member, social scientist, and Fundación Rumbos' President, stated that "Articles 44 and 45 of PyMES Act lower the fines imposed on Bad Checks Act by 50% and that this decrease directly affects all disabilities programs."

REDI criticized the Chief of the Cabinet and that of CONADIS, the Consulting Commission on the Integration of Peoples with Disabilities, who are just happy to secure "as minimum, the annual average from '98 and '99 since" Mr. Joly says "we run the risk that the government spends the average collected at it's own will. And as this average will decrease in about 50% as a result of Articles 44 and 45, we can foresee progressive decreases. In two years we will see a decline of more than half of   what it was in 98 and 99."

These cuts reflect either a lack of policies, or commitment towards the sector. 42 million were assigned to disabilities in 1998, while 27 million were assigned in 1999 and, as Mr. Joly states, "nowadays, with the insufficient of 18 million assigned for year 2000's budget, and after paying for inherent administrative costs in the program, it will end up being about $3 per person with disabilities for the whole year. That does not even cover the cost of designing programs on disabilities."

In reference to the Checks Act - which finances the funds for disabilities - Mr. Pedro Pou from the Central Bank has pardoned millions in fines that have never been paid, which constitutes an illegal transfer of funds from state's funds into the private banking industry. By even accepting a modified Article 47, it would mean to accept this theft of disability funds through ignoring said legislation.

On the other hand, businesses and banks have never set aside funds to support the rights and to solve the needs of people with disabilities. Better yet, just as the government, they have ignored the subject. It would be enough to ask how many private businesses and state offices have people with disabilities in their payrolls.

In essence, the People with Disabilities Network stated its firm protest to:

• Any budget cut,
• To under budgeting,
• To diverging funds.

In short: " Those funds from the Checks Act can not be used to finance the Financing of PyMES Act."

For more information, contact:
REDI
Luis María Campos 1436 - Piso 10 - "A"
C. 1426 - 4 784-7155 - 15-4947-6839
Carlos Ferreres (President, REDI)
Cell phone: 15-4947-6839
Eduardo Joly
Tel and Fax: 011-4784-7155
E-mail: redi@rumbos.org.ar