Prioritizes child protection, is compatible with income from work and ranges between 517 and 1,100 euros per month
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Dec. 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Plenary Session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands has unanimously approved this Tuesday the citizen income law that replaces the Canary Islands Insertion Benefit and plans to reach some 40,000 people with monthly amounts ranging between 517 euros for a single person and 1,100 euros for a family with four children and two parents.
The new law, which repeals the Canary Islands Insertion Benefit (PCI), has been enriched with 90 amendments from all groups, 66% of those presented, and is also compatible with the perception of income from work and includes several exceptions for the coexistence units.
The Minister of Social Rights, Noemí Santana, has thanked the support of the Executive “for believing” in the law and “putting it as a priority” on her agenda and the “wonderful work” carried out by the Ministry team.
He has commented that it is a “historic day” and that the law “transcends” the Government and the Chamber although “it is a first step” to continue advancing towards universal basic income.
“You have to be proud,” he indicated, stressing that although the Canary Islands is the last autonomous community to have an income of this type, it now presents “a pioneering law.”
Vidina Espino (Mixed Group) has commented that in order to live in a “dignified” way, one must have a basic minimum income and that commitment, included in the Statute of Autonomy, has focused the parliamentary groups with the new law.
He has said that it is “an important achievement” and a tool to improve the lives of citizens, although it is a law “that falls short” and could be “more ambitious” since it limits receiving income to people who live with others who receive help.
Espino believes that the state of family life of rights is “penalized”, where people are grouped in the same house in the face of high housing prices, and censures that the process “makes it difficult” to access.
PP: THE BEST LAW FOR THE CURRENT MOMENT
Poli Suárez, of the Popular Group, has pointed out that this law tries to reach the people and families “who have the worst time” with an “exemplary” parliamentary presentation where the politicians have agreed to try to improve the quality of life of the citizens.
He has said that this law “is the most important document of the legislature”, has highlighted the “generosity” of the quadripartite, with many opposition amendments accepted -more than 60% of those of his group–, and that the final “is the best” for the current moment because it allows modifications in the future.
He has also had an impact on social inclusion itineraries, covering the cost of a social worker for city councils and having a system of aid and incentives for companies that hire income recipients –through amendments from his group –.
Cristina Valido (CC-PNC) has lamented the delay in the processing of the citizen income law and that it does not include some essential elements because the PCI is “not far” from the new income, warning that “there is nothing to boast about” with only 12,000 beneficiaries when there are more than 800,000 people at risk of poverty.
He has pointed out that the income has “improvements” but “does not look at all” to what the opposition groups were asking for, stressing that the return of young people and adults to the family nucleus makes it impossible to grant aid — the IMV is below of the national average–.
He has indicated that the Canary Islands is “structurally different” from other autonomous communities and many people will be rejected since the concession depends on the accompaniment of third parties. “We are not talking about millionaire families but very normal ones,” she added.
Valido has also criticized the digital processing of income, hopes that there will be economic resources in the future to maintain it and has congratulated the Minister of Social Rights, Noemí Santana, for moving it forward.
Jesús Ramos (ASG) has highlighted the ease of reaching agreements in the presentation and that a right to family unity and not individual has been chosen so that the resources “go to those who really need them”.
He has claimed “everyone’s work” to draft the law and insisted that there will be continuous support and monitoring for the beneficiaries in order to get them out of poverty.
YES WE CAN: “A BIG STEP” BECAUSE RIGHTS ARE “WIDEN”
María del Río, from Sí Podemos, recalled that her group already requested a citizen income in 2018 and although the current one “is not the most ambitious”, it will be from now on, and with the ‘Pact of Flowers’, when start up
He has commented that “it is a big step” for the Canary Islands because “rights are widening”, he has valued the consensus of all groups and the protection of children, and stressed that “the PCI says goodbye with all honors for its older sister” –23,000 people and more than 12,000 families, plus those who pursue the IMV–.
He has also said that the next objective is a universal basic income for all citizens by the mere fact of being born.
Carmen Hernández (NC) has pointed out that this law “is the best way to end the year” and with a consensus “that makes history” since a proposal from her group was rejected in 2019 because there was “uncertainty” when now it is much greater due to to the pandemic, the volcanic eruption and the inflation crisis.
He has indicated that the Canary Islands “has the best government at the worst time” and highlighted that for every euro invested in income, more than one euro is recovered via income from economic activity.
It has valued the protection of ex-guardian minors and non-contributory pensioners, a complement to housing and resolves the “perversion” of the PCI that discouraged the search for employment.
Isaac Godoy, from the Socialist Group, has pointed out that this law enshrines “a new right”, takes “a giant step” to combat poverty and social exclusion and is agreed upon with the groups, Fecam and Fecai.
It has had an impact on the protection that is given to children by granting an income to the parents and that there are funds for the municipalities to have resources and face the law with social workers.
The president of the Parliament, Gustavo Matos, has closed the debate highlighting the “commitment” of the Chamber to comply with the mandate of the new Statute of Autonomy to approve an electoral law and another of citizen income.
