Caracas (AFP) – The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, announced on Thursday a 26% salary increase to apply to the so-called "comprehensive minimum income" that raises it from $190 to $240 per month, the first adjustment after the fall of Nicolás Maduro.

First modification: 05/01/2026 - 16:29

The so-called "minimum income" consists of a bonus scheme that does not affect salary benefits, in addition to the minimum wage, which is equivalent to about 30 cents on the dollar.

The government uses indexed bonds to improve the income of workers who earn the lowest minimum wage in the region, frozen for four years and eaten away by very high and chronic inflation.

"The first announcement I want to make is that the minimum comprehensive income will reach the equivalent of 240 dollars," said Rodríguez, without offering details.

"I must highlight that it is the most important increase in recent years. We had not had an increase that would allow us to have this level," he continued from a platform installed on the main avenue of Caracas.

The new income, however, is far below the $677 that, according to private estimates, the basic food basket costs for a family of five.

Reform

Rodríguez, who assumed the country's presidency after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a US operation in January, had promised a "responsible" salary increase.

Applause and shouts of celebration echoed among the several thousand Chavistas who gathered in Caracas at the end of a "pilgrimage" to demand the end of sanctions against Venezuela.

Although long faces were also seen, murmurs between teeth.

"It was not what I expected, but we are moving towards more," consoles Yeisi Romero, a 44-year-old protester. Rodríguez "is doing well, first things first, increase the salary a little," he told AFP.

The president also announced an increase in pensions to $70 per month.

The increase occurs in a context of fear among unions of a reform of the current labor law promoted by the late President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013).

The norm reduced the weekly working day to 40 hours and increased the oversight capacity of the Executive to the business community.

Now, Rodríguez's interim government proposes reforming it, a request from Fedecámaras for years, under the argument of gaining competitiveness.

"Job insecurity"

Venezuelans' demands for better working conditions are exacerbated in a devastated economy that is not recovering.

Since 2021, Venezuela has experienced slight and still insufficient signs of recovery. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had fallen by nearly 80% in a decade and led to an exodus of almost 8 million Venezuelans, according to the UN.

In this scenario, some 7 million Venezuelans operate in informal labor, according to a recent study presented by two universities in the country.

Yubiray Somaza works days of up to 12 hours without paying statutory night bonuses in a shoe store in Caracas.

"We do not have a permanent contract and they constantly threaten to fire us if we do not comply with the boss's demands," lamented this 28-year-old saleswoman.

Inflation has deteriorated relations between worker and employer in such a way that compliance with the law has become unfeasible for many companies, explained economist and researcher Demetrio Marotta.

"We are seeing situations of job insecurity, exacerbated informality and high levels of informality in every sense," said Marotta.

There are "conditions that fundamentally encourage the destruction of jobs and non-contracting in legal terms," ​​he added.

© 2026 AFP

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