Opinions and Blogs
Locals Struggle as El Salvador’s Real Estate Boom Drives Up Costs
In recent years, Salvadoran real estate prices have increased to levels never seen before, primarily due to improved security – safer streets have made the country’s real estate more attractive. However, the rise in property value has left many locals … Read more
The nostalgia of migration amid a life stolen in pieces
When I was little, I never dreamed of traveling to big, faraway cities. Even when relatives told me what life was like in other countries, I was perfectly happy just escaping the stifling heat of the capital to spend an … Read more
El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly Approves Foreign Agents Law, Imposes 30% Tax on NGO Donations
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has approved a controversial Foreign Agents Law that imposes a 30% tax on foreign donations to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and gives them 90 days to register with the government. The law, which was passed … Read more
InSightCrime: El Salvador’s Anti-Gang Crackdown Now Has Political Opponents in Its Crosshairs
Authorities in El Salvador have arrested a prominent human rights defender amid growing concerns over the government’s repressive anti-crime tactics, suggesting policies once used to attack organized crime are being repurposed to target political opponents. On May 18, El Salvador’s … Read more
President Bukele Faces Backlash Over Foreign Agents Law Proposal from NGOs and Opposition
Local and international NGOs swiftly condemned President Bukele’s proposed Foreign Agents Law, warning it could suppress dissent and restrict civil society. Many posted statements on social media calling the measure authoritarian. Human rights organizations outside El Salvador echoed domestic concerns, … Read more
World Bank: Crime Limits Central America’s Economic Growth—a Vicious Cycle
In Central America, crime not only takes lives—it suffocates economies. Violent and corrupt forces relentlessly drag back a region rich in culture and potential. The World Bank’s latest Latin America and Caribbean Economic Review (LACER) delivers a sobering reminder: organized … Read more
Permanent Table for Labor Justice (MPJL) Pushes for 25% Minimum Wage Increase in El Salvador
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Permanent Table for Labor Justice (MPJL) submitted a proposal last Thursday to increase the minimum wage by at least 25%. The Permanent Roundtable for Labor Justice (MPJL) resubmitted its proposal to the National Minimum … Read more