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CENTROAMERICAN LEADERSHIP EXPANDS FROM BIG FIVE TO BIG SIX, INTRODUCES NEW FURLOUGH SYSTEM

FEBRUARY 2025

In a 4 to 1 Vote, the Big Five has decided to expand its ranks to include one further Corporation : Centromerico Refining Group. As a result Centromerico joins the ranks of the United Fruit Company, Standard Fruit Company, Cuyamel Fruit Company, United Mineral Corporation & Solis Residential Development. The move came as CFC and UMCs income rates were declining in terms of the ratio to other Companies, and thus it would have been a real threat that one of them would be removed from the Big Five due to having declined as a firm, instead adding Centromerico they remain part of the largest 6 Companies. The sole negative vote came from UFC which would itself have been positively affected if CFC was removed. As a result of the change one more interest group and voice has been added to the Group, degrading the focus on agriculture even more as now half of all Firms within the Group are no longer fruit related, a trend that is sure to continue long term.

As their first act as an enlarged structure however, they voted and passed (4 to 2) a new system for Workers Furlough. That being whenever a worker is unable to work for longer periods of time due to sickness, pregnancy or other issues (such as covid which has mostly subsided). During these periods it is normal in most countries that payments such as mortgage, credit card bills and other utility payments continue. Instead in Centroamerica what is to be done will decrease homelessness quite dramatically as it removes any obligation to pay for utilities and mortgages during Furlough. Instead, for each month in Furlough, a month is simply added on the back end of payments. If an individual has 12 years and 2 months left on his mortgage and goes on furlough for 5 months, he will now still have 12 years and 2 months of mortgage to pay however the end of payment date shall be pushed backwards. As a result people will not have their homes seized from them immediately if they are unable to work for whatever reason. This should increase stability of payments as most individuals who are unable to pay their credit will default in any case, and as such it has given a net of stability to creditor and lender alike.

It is an awkward situation that while the now Big Six was searching for an effective way to combat homelessness and increase reliability of credit payments, they actually stumbled on a policy that is not only immensely popular but more progressive than most other Nations in the world. Of course this is by no means a precedent, but merely a positive coincidence that some Nations could perhaps take note from.