The Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT) denounces the unilateral adoption by the government of bill 54.23, aimed at transferring the management of compulsory health insurance in the public sectors from the CNOPS to the CNSS. This decision, taken outside the framework of social dialogue, is seen as a direct threat against the social gains of workers.
Bill 54.23, amending the legislative framework for compulsory health insurance to transfer the management of public schemes from the CNOPS (National Fund of Social Security Organizations) to the CNSS (National Social Security Fund), arouses strong support opposition from the CDT. In a press release published by its executive office, the trade union center criticizes the unilateral method adopted by the government, which it accuses of disregarding social dialogue and further weakening the achievements of employees.
The categorical rejection of the CDT
For the CDT, this bill constitutes a new attack against the social benefits of civil servants and employees. The planned transfer includes contributions, services, real estate assets as well as human resources from the CNOPS to the CNSS. According to the center, this approach marks a further step in the dismantling of public social protection institutions.
The press release highlights the history of CNOPS, which played a crucial role in covering the health insurance needs of civil servants, by accumulating expertise and experiences that it would have been preferable to consolidate and develop. The CDT deplores that this reform was developed outside the framework of social dialogue, despite its repeated requests for an in-depth discussion.
A reform seen as a threat to social rights
The CDT believes that this reform is guided by economic interests aimed at “commodifying” health insurance. She criticizes a system which tends towards individualization of services, to the detriment of the principles of collective solidarity. Indeed, the transition from the management of public schemes from the CNOPS to the CNSS is seen as a decline in the foundations of the social protection system based on the principle of solidarity distribution.
According to the press release, the government seems to be reproducing the methods applied during the controversial pension reforms and the bill governing the right to strike. These approaches, considered authoritarian, are part, according to the CDT, of a global vision aimed at weakening workers’ rights and reducing their capacity to protest.
Call for mobilization and social dialogue
Faced with what it considers to be a direct threat to the rights of policyholders and the future of public sector mutuals, the CDT reaffirms its categorical refusal of the bill. She calls on the government to include this reform in the social dialogue agenda, in accordance with the commitments made in the agreement of April 30, 2022.
In conclusion, the CDT invites civil servants, retirees, unions and associations to firmly oppose this project and to mobilize to preserve social gains. For the central, this is a crucial fight against a vision which, according to it, favors economic interests to the detriment of social rights and social justice.
Ensure adequate social protection for its public sector workers, particularly in light of the proposed health insurance reform?
Questions for Guest 1:
1. Can you please provide more information about the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT) and its stance on the proposed health insurance reform bill?
2. How does the CDT view the process by which the government has adopted bill 54.23, and why do they believe it constitutes a threat to workers’ social gains?
3. Can you explain the potential implications of transferring management of compulsory health insurance from the CNOPS to the CNSS, specifically in terms of impact on public sector workers and their benefits?
4. What is the historical significance of the CNOPS in providing health insurance coverage for civil servants, and why is its role important in maintaining collective bargaining power?
5. How does the CDT believe that this reform could potentially affect the principles of social protection and collective solidarity, and what alternatives might they propose?
6. In your opinion, what role does social dialogue play in shaping policies that impact workers’ rights and benefits, and why is it crucial for the government to engage in broader discussions with labor unions on this issue?
Questions for Guest 2:
1. Can you share your perspective on the proposed health insurance reform bill and the reasons behind the government’s decision to adopt it?
2. Do you agree with the CDT’s assessment that bill 54.23 represents an attack on civil servants’ social benefits, or do you believe that it will actually improve services and ensure financial sustainability in the long run?
3. How do you respond to concerns about commodification of healthcare services and the potential erosion of collective bargaining power resulting from the shift in management from the CNOPS to the CNSS?
4. What mechanisms are in place to ensure that any changes to the health insurance system will not compromise the quality of services provided to public sector workers, and how will the government ensure transparency throughout the process?
5. Given the criticisms leveled by the CDT, how important is it for the government to engage in dialogue with labor unions and other stakeholders when considering reforms that could impact worker rights and benefits?
6. In your view, how can the government balance its economic goals with its responsibility to
