March 17, 2008
Mexican
President Inaugurates Job Creation Program in Marginalized Areas
Presidency
of the Republic
· Excerpts from a speech by Mexican President Felipe Calderón, regarding
the new Employment Program in Marginalized Zones
San Luis de la Paz, Guanajuato – I have come
here today to confirm my commitment to Mexicans, particularly those living in the country's most marginalized zones, to tell
the inhabitants of Guanajuato and Mexico that my government is working and will continue to work to provide equal opportunities
for progress in all states and regions in the country.
We must stop this history, this vicious circle of
poverty, migration and more poverty by creating more job opportunities in the most marginalized areas of the country.
To this end, what my government is doing is acknowledging
this difference. It knows that here, in Misión de Chichimecas, the economic situation
for investing or working is not the same as it is in León, Guanajuato. That is why, with the start of the Employment Program
in Marginalized Zones, my government has fulfilled its commitment to promote job creation in the poorest parts of the country,
where over 17 million Mexicans live.
I am pleased to know that as a result of the program,
which went into effect last week, Dasan [Confections] has made the decision to built three new production plants in the state,
creating opportunities for 1,000 residents of Guanajuato.
Most importantly, the program is complemented by a
series of social supports, such as: all the benefits of social security, including Social Security, health services, sickness,
maternity and work risk coverage; and benefits such as the daycare centers we will be promoting; and housing support as part
of the federal program, in which we will provide advance payments for housing, in some cases up to 38,000 pesos [US$3,536.00]
for those earning less than four minimum salaries.
What measures are we taking?
Through the Employment Program for Marginalized Zones,
which starts today [March 13, 2008], I know we are going to give the country’s marginalized and extremely marginalized
areas an opportunity for economic growth and competitiveness vis-à-vis other parts of the world which have taken a lot of
jobs that could have been created in Mexico over the past decade and a half.
These measures, and the Job Creation Program in Marginalized
Zones, are clear examples of the bridges we are building to link the fight against poverty and marginalization to economic
policy actions.
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(Press
Room, Presidency of the Republic, Mexico, D.F., March 13, 2008)
Translation
Presidency of the Republic
