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As it is known, in several Latin American countries their minimum wages have increased and in Venezuela they are looking for a way to make it a reality. Therefore, the Government of Nicolás Maduro has been discussing how much the new salary they are seeking to implement for this year 2023 should be. However, you should know that Venezuelan workers demand a much higher quota than the Government has suggested, as salaries are not enough for the purchase of basic necessities, and this is something that has greatly harmed them in recent years. Keep reading to learn all the information.
What do Venezuelan workers demand?
Venezuelans who work daily demand a series of improvements in their salaries, and now it is the labor unions that will be in dialogue under the auspices of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and they demand that the minimum wage be between 200 and 400 dollars to cover the basic basket.
According to the information and data from the Documentation and Social Analysis Center of the Teachers' Federation (Cendas), it is known that a Venezuelan family of five needs - until last December - an average of 63.24 current minimum wages, that is, about 400 dollars at the current exchange rate of 20.52 bolivars per dollar, to cover the Basic Basket.
"Workers demand salaries and pensions indexed to the cost of the basic basket. We will not accept the agreement between Fedecamaras and the Government, which violate our rights to have a decent salary," said the spokesperson for the Nursing College, Ana Rosario Contreras.
How much would the new minimum wage be in Venezuela?
Although the president of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Production (Fedecámaras), Carlos Fernández, indicated that the increase in the minimum wage is still a subject of debate, it would reach 50 dollars per month.
During a radio interview, Fernández pointed out that it will depend a lot on what scheme is allowed for the private sector and the public sector to make remunerations effective. He also indicated that a different approach should be sought for the solutions to the country's problems and "stop tackling the issue with monetary policies, but with supply and demand stimulation policies."
What does Nicolás Maduro say about the salary increase?
Due to the complaints, the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, called on workers from across the nation to take to the streets to protest against the sanctions imposed by the United States. In addition, he wrote on Twitter: "We will always defend the comprehensive salary of the workers of Venezuela. We will give birth to the resources to continue investing in health, education and housing."
However, Nicolás Maduro has not directly commented on the increase in the minimum wage for public workers and teachers who continue to protest.