América Writing (EFE).- In Venezuela the current monthly minimum wage is equivalent to only 5 dollars, and in Nicaragua 70% of jobs are informal. These and other problems were the focus of this May Day in Latin America, in which the labor force of the region demanded fair conditions to improve their quality of life.
gears
In Argentina, the population held a massive act in the Plaza de Mayo for “the defeat of the adjustment and the government’s pact with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported by all the bosses’ parties.”
The claims frame problems such as inflation of 104.3% per year last March, the fall in the purchasing power of wages, labor informality and the increase in poverty to 39.2% in 2022.
On the other hand, the Central de Trabajadores-Alianza Sindical in Venezuela called for a national advisory council on wages, as a permanent instance, and urged the release of union leaders arrested for defending rights.
In March 2022, the Executive set the minimum wage at 130 bolivars, which was then equivalent to 30 dollars, and which due to inflation were reduced to just over 5 dollars.
In Nicaragua, according to independent economists such as Adolfo Acevedo, more than 70% of jobs correspond to the informal sector.
After the act of the trade union center for International Workers’ Day, the Government of Uruguay expressed its “disagreement” with being responsible for an “unequal” model but said it was open to “building” dialogue.
The workers in Colombia came out with flags, harangues and banners to support the reforms promoted by the Government of Gustavo Petro, who called on the people to mobilize, since his proposals have not been successful in Congress.
For her part, the Chilean Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Jeannette Jara, asked Parliament to “accelerate” the discussion of a project that seeks to gradually increase the minimum wage to 500,000 pesos (about 620 dollars) in July 2024. .
Despite having one of the highest minimum wages in Latin America, after a rebound in gross domestic product (GDP) of 11.7% in 2021, the Chilean economy grew only 2.4% last year, while inflation closed with a rise of 12.8%, the highest since 1992.
Welfare
Added to economic precariousness are factors that can put the mental and physical health of workers at risk: the general secretary of the National Association of Public Employees (ANEP), Albino Vargas, described as “incredible” that Costa Rica is close to approving by law 12-hour working days.
The law will allow private sector companies 4-3 shifts, that is, 4 working days of 12 hours each with 3 rest days.
According to the unions, this change in working hours will allow companies to avoid paying overtime and will be a burden on the lives of workers.
For its part, the Labor Code in Haiti requires a salary adjustment for each increase of at least 10% of the inflation rate, currently estimated at around 50%, according to official reports.
The minimum wage for workers rose by 37% in 2022, according to data from Oxfam Intermón. For this and other reasons the workers marched this Monday in Haiti.
In turn, the union of workers of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Guatemala denounced that the authorities of this entity have hired inexperienced personnel and have denied permits for medical emergencies.
In Cuba, the events for International Workers’ Day were postponed until next Friday due to the heavy rains that hit the island on Sunday.
background problems
Panama reaches this date immersed in a long debate about one of the two pension subsystems of the Social Security Fund (CSS), which is about to run out of funds, according to alerts from the International Labor Organization (ILO).
On the other hand, in a manifesto signed by the Nueva Central de las y los Trabajadores de México, the organization criticized that the neoliberal governments “are deploying a brutal offensive” against the working class by imposing anti-popular reforms.
Finally, they reported that they will convene a national dialogue through a National Democratic Convention of the workers that contributes to the reorganization of the working class that provides an “anti-systemic and vindictive” platform of struggle.
In Ecuador, María Paz Jervis, from the National Federation of Chambers of Industries, highlighted that May Day is also the opportunity to remember the “need to close labor gaps,” since 6 out of 10 people in the labor force “do not They have a proper job.”
In Honduras, the population also expressed itself, since of the ten million inhabitants, two million have employment problems.
Altered
The Salvadoran protesters asked the authorities “again to review” the minimum wage, which is currently 365 dollars a month, for an increase that allows them to “afford basic basket products.”
During the protests, the Foundation for Studies for the Application of Law (Fespad) denounced the arrest of at least 20 trade unionists, some of them captured within the framework of an emergency regime implemented in the country to “combat” gangs.
Along the same lines, three Puerto Rican union leaders were arrested in organized protests.
The Police said that they were arrested “for obstruction of justice”, however, Scott Barbés, a member of the general union of workers, assured EFE that “they did nothing more than try to speak.
Possible solutions?
After a massive march, the Bolivian president, Luis Arce, announced the promulgation of several decrees such as the salary increase, which was agreed between the Bolivian Central Obrera and the Government last week, and others to promote the professionalization of workers.
Although Nicaragua commemorated May Day with the lowest average monthly minimum wage in Central America, with 213.2 dollars, as of next September 1 it will increase by 12.7 dollars, according to what was agreed in a tripartite table.
For his part, the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced this Monday the increase in two bonuses, one for food received by active workers and another for “war” for pensioners and other sectors, of 40 and 20 dollars, respectively, as part of an “emergency plan” to recover the salary.
In Brazil, the president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, created a working group on Monday to prepare regulations for home delivery drivers and drivers linked to mobile applications, something that the population has been demanding for some time.