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### IMSS-Bienestar: A Year of Unfulfilled Promises and Labor Rights Violations
As Baja California Sur completes its first year under the new IMSS-Bienestar decentralized public organization, the workers involved in this transition express growing concerns over a range of unfulfilled labor promises and rights violations. Despite several reports filed by employees, federal authorities have yet to address these issues promptly and transparently.
Marlene Cota, the general secretary of the Sindicato Fuerza Independiente de Trabajadores de la Salud (FINTRAS) in Baja California Sur, has voiced the worries and complaints of union members. She highlighted the lag in the deposit of payments and other benefits as key issues.
“Healthcare workers are known for peaceful protests that do not affect the population. It’s crucial that people know we’re here, that we’re also parents with needs and that we have fulfilled our duties with professionalism,” Cota said.
Cota accused the government of not compensating the efforts of over 460 employees now part of this new system, indicating that working conditions are far from ideal.
“Payments remain pending, including Sunday and quarterly bonuses, holiday pay, punctuality, and transportation allowances for those traveling from distant regions,” she emphasized.
Additionally, the union disclosed that transfer allowances, meant for staff required to travel beyond a certain number of kilometers, remain unpaid. “Our Salvatierra Hospital is a key referral center, and the staff undertaking these transfers often do so in unsafe conditions,” Cota added.
Moreover, the workers have faced undue harassment from some officials, with text messages pressuring them to work on holidays.
Despite improvements in communication with the IMSS-Bienestar state coordinator, Bogdan Arriaga, Cota pointed out that these problems extend beyond his jurisdiction and require federal intervention.
**Unaccounted Deductions and Stalled Retirement Plans**
Yadira León, a newly transferred worker to IMSS-Bienestar, reported federal authorities deducting loan repayments and other fees but failing to reflect these in the accounts of relevant institutions. “I have housing loans and other deductions reflected in my paycheck but not in the institutions’ records, risking my credit standing,” León stated.
León also mentioned issues with retirement paperwork, which has left some employees in limbo. “People awaiting retirement documents are left without explanations, accumulating doubts with no clear answers,” she said.
Leon further disclosed that her salary had decreased since transitioning from the Secretariat of Health to IMSS-Bienestar. She received no severance and must verify her continuity in terms of seniority, with no federal authority to clarify these concerns.
**Delays Due to Administrative Changes**
Bogdan Arriaga acknowledged delays in fulfilling certain requests, citing the federal administration change as a contributing factor. He expressed optimism that the situation might improve with the upcoming administration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. “We know transitions cause delays as financial flows and commitments slow down,” he remarked.
Arriaga acknowledged issues with the pending May 10 requests and noted that delays in some cases, like retirement and deductions, are sometimes due to incorrect information provided by the workers.
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### Secondary Article: Healthcare System Reform in Mexico Faces Criticism
Recent news highlights that Mexico’s healthcare reform, including transitions like the IMSS-Bienestar, continues to face scrutiny and criticism from various stakeholders. According to reports, workers across different regions complain about unfulfilled promises, lack of proper remuneration, and deteriorating working conditions.
The federal government’s initiative aimed to provide universal healthcare coverage, but has instead been marred by reports of persistent inefficiencies, as affirmed by local union leaders and affected employees.
Recent interviews with healthcare workers in other states reveal similar issues, indicating that the problems encountered in Baja California Sur may be part of a larger, systemic issue. Employees in these areas report long delays in receiving benefits and a lack of response from authorities. These concerns raise questions about the sustainability and effectiveness of current healthcare reform strategies.
As the administration prepares to transition under President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, hopes are that renewed focus and leadership might address these systemic issues and provide much-needed improvements to the healthcare system.
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