CRUCH supports amendment to law on family abandonment and alimony payments

The amendment to Law No. 14,908 introduces a provision prohibiting the awarding of programs or instruments financed by the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) to those in arrears on pensions, an initiative that, from the perspective of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), is a step in the right direction. “We believe it should be done as a political signal, for ethical reasons,” stated Rector Fernanda Kri, who attended the Senate's Committee on Women and Gender Equity representing the Council.

Several CRUCH universities have already incorporated restrictions on the allocation of internal funds and have made considerable progress in gender equality.

 “It is an initiative that is absolutely in the right direction, something that we believe should be done as a political signal, for an ethical role (…) From the rectors of the CRUCH universities and from the Gender Directorates there is total consensus on this (…) said Rector Fernanda Kri, who represented the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) before the Senate's Commission on Women and Gender Equity on Monday, July 8.

Rector Kri noted that “in several CRUCH universities restrictions have already been incorporated into the delivery of internal funds for pension debt and that, although there are few cases of researchers in this situation in CRUCH institutions, the approval of the regulations would facilitate our work and enhance these actions.”.

In addition to being barred from accessing internal funds, the rector explained that there is an option for researchers in debt to obtain them, provided they authorize a monthly payroll deduction. “We are not disqualifying them from receiving funding, but we are requiring them to commit to repayment (…) we are not looking for them to be up-to-date by the time of the competition, but rather for continuous payments over time,” Kri stated.

At the end of the session, the general idea of the bill amending Law No. 14,908, concerning family abandonment and child support payments, was approved. The bill introduces a provision prohibiting the awarding of programs or instruments financed by the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) to those in arrears on child support payments. This means that, at the time of awarding a grant, ANID must consult online whether the beneficiary is registered in the [unclear/unclear/etc.]. National Registry of Child Support Debtors.

CRUCH Suggestions

Fernanda Kri, rector of the University of O'Higgins and head of the CRUCH Gender Equality Commission, suggested that applicants could also be asked for a certificate proving that they are not in the debtors registry, which ANID could verify at the time of awarding and/or renewing competitive funds.

On the other hand, he said that these funds should not be used to hire people who are in debt and that the same criteria could be applied to other public agencies, such as CORFO. “We believe this should be a general criterion for the vast majority of state funds and that this should be a restriction in all competitive funding programs,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, he noted that CRUCH universities are making progress in training programs so that "future professionals understand they have to contribute to pension funds." He commented that "we have made a lot of progress in recent years, but we still have a long way to go, and in some disciplines it is more complex than in others (...) it is ongoing work, a cultural shift, a long-term issue.".