The Government of El Salvador, led by President Nayib Bukele, has launched a plan to rehabilitate 48,000 non-violent inmates, aiming to reintegrate them into society and save $56 million annually. Announced on President Bukele’s X account, this initiative, “Plan Cero Ocio,” engages inmates in agriculture, construction, automotive repair, and textile manufacturing.
Director General of Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, highlighted the economic and rehabilitative benefits, including the production of 1.2 million school uniforms for public school students. Currently, 21,000 inmates work daily in various industries, with plans to expand to 48,000.
This program transforms the penal system from being known as “universities of crime” to centers of productivity and societal contribution, significantly reducing costs and improving inmate rehabilitation.