According to an analysis conducted by the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA), the litigation industry for workplace accidents costs the sector more than $200 billion a year. In the meeting of the Board of Directors of the UIA, a study was presented which reveals that, while Chile has fewer than 6 lawsuits per 10,000 workers, in Argentina the figure rises to 114.
Despite the reduction in workplace accidents, the increase in lawsuits has caused the premiums of Work Risk Insurers (ART) to rise. Other issues addressed in the meeting were the need to reduce gross income and concerns about the bidding for the Waterway.
UIA authorities analyzed the negative impact of work risk insurance premiums on industrial activity and competitiveness. Over the past 20 years, despite the decrease in the rate of workplace accidents, the number of lawsuits has skyrocketed, with 300,000 lawsuits pending resolution.
In comparison with other countries in the region, the average premium in Argentina is higher, which affects the competitiveness of companies. The UIA emphasized the importance of establishing provincial forensic medical bodies and unlinking the costs of expert evaluations from the incapacity determined by the experts.
Amid a scenario of stagnation in industrial activity and rising costs, the UIA requested provinces and municipalities to collaborate on the competitiveness agenda by balancing the tax burden. Emphasis was placed on reducing provincial and municipal taxes, as well as lowering the national tax burden to improve the competitiveness of the sector.
