President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has defended her government’s record in promoting local business and industry, while launching a fierce criticism of the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) and the chamber’s negative stance on agreements with China.
Referring to the various pacts signed with the Asian nation, Cristina reflected: «We will see what the Chinese do and we will also see what we do.
«Do not take Argentines for fools. Since when have businesses cared if cheap labour was coming over from China?», the president fired, responding to the UIA’s criticisms. «It is hard to understand why they would spit on the barbecue. Or maybe there are interests in play which are not commercial, but political,» she said.
«It is interesting to see how some are worried about cheap labour coming, when they have been pushing for devaluation in order to destroy salaries.»
«This government has prided itself on defending Argentine jobs and Argentine business leaders, unlike any other government that came before it,» the head of state fired during a public broadcast transmitted today live from Government House.
Cristina also used the broadcast to announce a 37.25 percent increase in the yearly student stipend, which reaches 3.23 million children in 2.02 million families nationwide.
As well as revealing new subsidies for school renovation works, the head of state raised the benefit from 510 to 700 pesos annually for those eligible.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald