El Salvador - Social development



A mandatory private social insurance program replaced the government sponsored program. Employees and employers each must contribute 7% of payroll. Old age, disability and survivorship is covered. Maternity and sickness benefits are provided by a social insurance scheme that is funded by employee and employer contributions, as well as a subsidy from the government. Maternity benefits are equal to 75% of wages for up to 12 weeks and also includes free milk and a layette. Work injury insurance covers those in industry, commerce and public service; Casual workers, domestic workers, and teachers are not covered.

Women have the same legal rights as men, but in practice face discrimination in employment, salaries, education, and access to credit. The Family Code, implemented in 1994, removes previous provisions that discriminated against women and grants spousal rights to unmarried couples living together for at least 3 years. Domestic violence against women is pervasive. The incidence of child abandonment and abuse and the use of child labor appear to be on the increase. The government is working with the United Nation's Children's Fund to improve the welfare of children.

Human rights violations include use of excessive force and extrajudicial killings by police. New criminal and sentencing codes decreased violations of due process. Very few Salvadorians claim indigenous status; most have been assimilated into the general population. Indigenous groups live in poor rural areas. Most lack titles to their land and therefore lack the collateral necessary to access credit from a bank. The foremost indigenous association is the National Association of Indigenous Salvadorians (ANIS).

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