Venezuela's Divided Workforce Unites in Demand for Living Wages Amid Post-Maduro Economic Pledges
CARACAS — In a striking display of shared economic desperation, Venezuelan workers from across the political spectrum marched separately but in parallel on Monday, united by a single demand: a livable income. The protests underscore the profound economic challenges facing the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez, even as it seeks to unlock an oil-led revival following the ouster of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro.
The country's official monthly minimum wage and state pension stand at a stark 35 US cents—a figure rendered symbolic by a decade of economic collapse that saw GDP plummet by 80% and triggered a mass exodus. While the government provides irregular discretionary bonuses, they fall far short of covering basic needs in a nation still grappling with hyperinflation and scarcity.
"We fight for wages, democracy, and freedom!" chanted a crowd of university professors and staff outside the Supreme Court. The court is reviewing a case brought by the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) against the state for failing to provide adequate compensation. Gregorio Alfonzo, head of the UCV professors' association, framed the demand in the context of the country's hoped-for petroleum windfall. "Any increase in oil revenues must be invested in all workers," he declared to the assembled crowd.
The Rodríguez administration, installed after a U.S.-backed operation removed Maduro last month, has moved swiftly to mend ties with Washington and attract foreign investment. Last week, the National Assembly passed reforms to reopen the nationalized hydrocarbons sector to private companies—a move promptly met with a relaxation of key U.S. sanctions. Rodríguez has already directed $300 million from an initial U.S. sale of Venezuelan crude toward stabilizing the beleaguered bolivar.
Just blocks away, a separate rally of pro-government workers also convened outside the judicial building. While their chants included calls for Maduro's release from a New York detention center, where he faces drug trafficking charges, they too presented a 10-point plan demanding urgent action on wages and pensions. "We have a real opportunity now," said their representative, Oliver Rivas. "Through negotiations with oil firms, the reformed Hydrocarbons Law, and renewed national dialogue, we can achieve recovery and wage growth."
Police maintained a cordon between the two groups, limiting interactions to shouted slogans. The simultaneous protests highlight the delicate tightrope the interim government must walk: delivering on promises of a better future while addressing the immediate, grinding poverty that affects citizens regardless of political allegiance.
Analysis & Reaction
The scenes in Caracas reveal a population weary of ideology and hungry for results. "This isn't about left or right anymore; it's about putting food on the table," said Mariana Silva, a Caracas-based economist. "The government's bet on oil is logical, but the benefits are not yet tangible for the average worker. These protests are a warning that patience is thin."
Carlos Gutierrez, a labor rights lawyer, offered a more measured perspective: "The fact that both sides are formally petitioning the state for economic relief, rather than solely engaging in political theater, is a new and potentially constructive development. It creates a common agenda for negotiation."
However, Ana Valdez, a shopkeeper whose son emigrated two years ago, was scathing in her critique: "They march, they chant, and the politicians make deals in air-conditioned rooms. We've heard 'better days ahead' for a generation. My pension buys a cup of coffee. This isn't governance; it's a cruel joke."
Meanwhile, Professor Eduardo López of the Central University noted the historical significance: "When both loyalists and opposition members file similar grievances on the same day, it signals that the social contract is broken. Restoring it will require more than oil dollars—it will need a credible, inclusive plan for equitable distribution."