“The issue here is the double standard that must be used to justify a pretext as vain as saying that they do not meet the objectives and that they have a hidden agenda, and we as a Salvadoran state are subscribers to the SDGs.” 2024-07-05 00:30:53

On Friday, June 28, in an interview with Julio Villagrán on Encuentro, economist Julia Evelyn Martínez and union leader Saraí Molina spoke regarding the dismissal of 300 employees at the Ministry of Culture for “promoting agendas that are not compatible with the Government’s vision,” and regarding those who the interviewees believed were victims of discrimination.

“What is being done is immoral. Public employees have job stability by constitution, it has been violated, it is not fair that all these people are fired for something for which they have no responsibility,” the union leader said.

For Molina, the changes and dismissals should have taken place in higher positions, following an analysis of who was compatible with the new purposes of the ministry and who was not, and following due process. Molina also pointed out a “double standard” by saying that the workers did not meet the objectives and had a hidden agenda, while El Salvador is a signatory of the SDGs.

“On June 13, 2023, there is a tweet from the UNDP stating that the UNDP and the CNDS, chaired by Vice President Felix Ulloa, signed an agreement to strengthen the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the 2030 agenda in El Salvador.”Martinez said.

Molina reiterated the lack of due process for the large number of layoffs by municipalities, commenting on the possibility of more cuts, as part of the “bitter medicine” mentioned by Nayib Bukele.

Another point discussed was the payment of $20,000 for the affected people, promised for this Monday, July 1. However, Molina fears that the payment will be delayed, similar to the cases of PNC agents who are still waiting for compensation.

“We are in a very complicated situation, there are 400 families left without their daily livelihood, they are people who dedicated their lives to the Ministry of Culture, who were close to retirement and they are left on the street”said the union leader.