In the first quarter of 2026, Chile's labor market faced a challenging situation marked by increased unemployment and informality, with women being the most impacted.

Hacienda's cuts do not target excess, but rather the minimum floor that makes studying possible: school meals, support for public education, reintegration, and access to university are all under scrutiny.

Former presidential candidate Jeannette Jara and ex-Minister Álvaro Elizalde have condemned José Antonio Kast's administration, accusing him of "governing for the rich" and promoting a disguised mega tax reform.

Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz has openly acknowledged that the government's economic-tax mega-reform does not provide any certainty that it will lead to job creation, raising concerns about its effectiveness.

"If you look at countries similar to ours... for example, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, which have comparable export structures, they actually impose higher taxes, not lower ones," affirmed the former state secretary in an interview with UChileTV's "Descabelladas" program.

The collective highlighted that this "theory" was previously attempted by Pinochet with the Chicago Boys: "What was the result? The only thing that trickled down was inequality and there was less money for social benefits. In our country, the worst recessions since the '30s were triggered, and per capita GDP fell drastically. Social policies had to be implemented in democracy to achieve real economic growth," asserted the FA.

The Kast administration has eliminated the SENCE tax credit to save $300 million annually, according to Minister Jorge Quiroz. The OTIC CChC, AGMO, and various experts warn of risks to mining and construction investments due to a talent shortage. They demand modernization rather than elimination to avert a looming employability crisis.

Juan Pablo Swett, the president of the National Multigremial, voiced serious concerns about the proposed tax hike on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of José Kast's plan, which also includes tax breaks for large corporations, calling the move politically unsustainable.

The Alejandro Lipschutz Institute (ICAL) has released an analysis of the "national reconstruction" project announced by President José Antonio Kast, highlighting a significant structural tension between the promises made and the actual proposals put forth.

Today, citizens are not focused on investment rates or OECD comparisons. They are grappling with the stark realities of rising living costs: fuel, transportation, and food prices. In this context, the question shifts. It is no longer about whether the project is technically sound. It becomes about whether priorities are properly aligned.