[NYTr] Bolivia Drafting New Labor Bill, Securing Food Sovereignty

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Bolivia Secures Food Sovereignty

Potosi, Bolivia, Nov 11 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian government
announced new political measures Sunday to consolidate food
sovereignty, and stop importing basic products.

According to Vice President Alvaro Garcia, by 2009, the State will
invest over 60 million dollars in the sector, distributed in various
programs.

When addressing the session of Potosi"s Municipal Council on the
occasion of its 197th foundation anniversary, Garcia informed that 18
million dollars have been approved for the construction there of a
soybean processing plant.

In addition, 25 million dollars will be assigned for the construction
of a rice and wheat enterprise, while another 10 millions will be
granted to resettle cattle nationwide, he added.

The top official stressed the government is also implementing
cooperation plans with credits, seeds, supplies, and technological
advice.

Garcia also recalled that two decades ago, the territories of Potosi
and Cochabamba guaranteed food production for the whole country, but
the caretaker governments and neoliberal model ended with that
tradition and productive capacity.

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Bolivia Drafting New Labor Bill

La Paz, Nov 11 (Prensa Latina) The New Labor Procedural Code Bill in
Bolivia seeks to protect the rights of children and youngsters,
establishing 16 as the working age, says a Labor Ministry report
released on Sunday.

According to Labor Ministry Legal Affairs Chief Javier Viscarra, the
new bill will be discussed among different social sectors before its
coming into force.

He explained that the bill includes the competence of relevant
authorities to handle labor processes involving young workers, in line
with the Boy, Girl, Teenager Code enacted in early 2000.

With this, the ministry will be a pioneer in granting children and
youngsters the condition of full citizens, he said, and recalled that
present General Labor Act establishes 18 as the working age.

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