For metalworkers, the incentive package should assure job protection

By Redação AutoIndústria | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

Despite being favorable to the measures encouraging vehicle sales, the ABC region Metalworkers Union manifested this Wednesday, 7/6, its dissatisfaction for the government did not consider job protection or mechanisms such as a popular credit line.

“It is very serious that a program as this one, with government incentives, does not include job protection in the automotive sector in manufacturers and autoparts companies”, said Wellington Messias Damasceno, managing director of the association.

He said he manifested this concern in a meeting on May 25 with President Lula, ministers and businessmen. “We stressed the importance of including job protection. No company representative opposed it, but even though this social compensation wasn’t announced”, he lamented.

The union leader also said they suggested the creation of a specific financing line. “This would be an important part of the program to enable workers to buy a new brand vehicle and is included in the proposal we presented to the government. In most cases, the purchase is possible only with longer terms and lower financing interest.”

Nonetheless, Damasceno welcomed the government package and said it includes part of the metalworkers’ suggestions, such as more benefits for companies that buy more parts in the national market, those that offer more affordable products and less-pollutant vehicles.

On May 3, the union directors and its president, Moisés Selerges, presented to President Lula the “Automotive Sector Study: trucks, buses and automobiles”, detailing the sector, guidelines and proposals for the Brazilian automotive chain with jobs generation.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz