Workers at the National Juvenile Reintegration Service Reject Government’s Proposed Shift Payment Reductions

Original article: «Importantes disminuciones en las remuneraciones»: Trabajadores del Servicio Nacional de Reinserción Social Juvenil rechazan propuesta de pago para sistemas de turno ofrecida por el Gobierno

The National Federation of Workers in Juvenile Reintegration Services and Child Welfare (Fenatrase), along with the local associations Artrase Rancagua, Artrase Biobío, Armetrase Metropolitan Region, and Artrasen Better Childhood Biobío, sent a declaration letter to the authorities of the Service, rejecting the payment proposal made by current officials for shift systems.

According to their reports, the scheme was outlined by the Budget Directorate and presented to them by the Administrative Subdirectorate of the National Juvenile Reintegration Service (SNRSJ).

In this regard, they warned that it is «evident» that the government’s proposal «establishes significant reductions in the wages currently received for this concept in the roles of day and night tutors, operational coordinators, house coordinators, technicians, gatekeepers, and drivers.»

As a Federation of Workers and Regional Associations, they emphasized that all efforts must be made by the government and their service to ensure that in the process of implementing and transforming toward a more specialized and efficient service, basic wage conditions for workers are guaranteed.

They added that this is especially true for those who perform long hours in critical roles, who are constantly exposed to violence and aggression in their workplaces from the users.

«Therefore, it is unacceptable that in the context of the discussions our Service has had with the Dipres from the central government to define this essential aspect of our work, the outcome results in a degradation of wages and a direct impact on the quality of life for the staff and their families,» the groups highlighted.

The workers firmly stated that there must be a necessary modification in the proposal from Dipres and the SNRSJ «to set the allocation percentage for the shift system as close as possible to what is currently received, without such large salary gaps as those contained in the proposal presented by the Service authorities.»

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