“This childcare center represents to ABC a way to offer a comprehensive solution to the demand of producer families of the area, who need to have a safe recreation and learning space for their children during harvest. It is part of a larger strategy of the Committee to continue adopting measures to prevent and raise awareness on child labor”, stated Bayá.
The inauguration of “Crecer” center facilities was headed by Francisco Estrada, President of the Association of Blueberry Producers of Tucumán (APRATUC) and attended by the president of National Registry of Rural Workers and Employers RENATRE (National Registry of Rural Workers and Employers), Abel Guerrieri and its Director, Alfonso Máculus, who were welcome by the Secretary of State of MIPyME (micro, small and medium sized- enterprises) and Employment in the province of Tucumán, Jorge Luis Domínguez, agencies that have worked together with the blueberry sector towards the realization of this initiative.
"This type of project aims at emotionally supporting our workers children and offering them a proper diet and education, avoiding exposure to risk during the absence of their parents, since we understand that the first years of life are key in their development,” said Estrada.
"As a sector, our aim is that society that shares our production cycle is fully supported, that is the reason why we are participating in this project pursuing a provincial scope and a solution so that mothers can leave out to work quietly," he added.
"Thanks to the contribution of the sector, we have now a larger space for children, with excellent facilities, educational and garden games which positively impacts the creative development of children and gives mothers the possibility to know where their children are while they work. We were able to double the number of children who attend and extend the schedule until 5:00 p.m.," said Maria Brandán, a CIC teacher.
"Our expectations are to deepen our work and continue expanding this kind of initiatives in more provinces, working to give families and especially mothers more options so they can work quietly, being sure that their children have a safe supporting space" said Bayá.
In this sense, ABC announced that agreements have been signed between RENATRE (National Registry of Rural Workers and Employers) and the city of Capitán Caceres and Teniente Berdina to plan the creation of two new childcare centers in these towns.
Childcare Center will operate from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has a kitchen, a room for children between 1 and 4 years old, individual bathrooms for men and women, a soccer field and large green spaces for all kinds of sports and outdoor recreational activities.