Companies that bought dollars and received ATP must return the profits

he Minister of Productive Development, Matías Kulfas, warned on Wednesday that the companies benefiting from the Work and production assistance (ATP) to pay half the salary of its employees and who have entered the foreign exchange market, both official and in cash with settlement, “they will be required to return the service”.

“WE we were very clear in the management of the ATP program, where any company meeting the necessary requirements was automatically included in the program. The rules of the game are clear, companies could not access the foreign exchange market, the official market or the cash market with liquidation, although yes for what has to do with import payments ”, explained the Minister.

In this sense, he argued that ATP, “It is a very important program which involved a significant effort from the State, about that if companies that have not complied with the regulations are indeed detected, they will be required to return the profits“.

“We had a state that was up to the task in the midst of the pandemic crisis, so that whoever does not respect the rules of the game will have its consequencesInsisted the minister.

As part of the coronavirus pandemic, the government implemented the ATP program which consisted of paying up to half of salaries by the state. The money was deposited directly into the accounts of the workers, so it did not go through the companies. But the advantage also meant that companies could not buy currencies either in the official market or through exchanges. This excluded those who needed foreign exchange to pay for their imports.

What is currently under investigation is whether there were any companies that were operating with bonds when they couldn’t because they were receiving ATP. And the minister’s warning is that, if they did, they must return the benefits they received from the state.

In another context, Kulfas has been consulted by recent statements by Vice President Cristina Kirchner: “I didn’t feel rocked at all. It has been a busy year with no difference between the week and Saturday or Sunday. “

On the other hand, he confirmed that the departure of the Maximum price “It will be progressive and consensual.”

In this sense, he declared that “this year, inflation will end 20 points lower than in 2019, in a context as difficult as 2020 was. However, we want to go further, because we do not are not satisfied “.

“For this reason, what is sought with maximum prices is to realign themselves and to be able to guarantee in the long term that the internal market can ensure the supply of these products without the transfer that there was already in these products. international prices to international prices “, detailed the Minister.