Seven out of ten Venezuelans below the poverty line: the social catastrophe no one stops

The reality that hits working families and the great popular majorities continues to be unsustainable. While the economy moves to the tireless rhythm of the dollar, the working people remain trapped in a hell of devalued bolivars. The constant and accelerated daily devaluation of the national currency translates into a devastating blow to workers’ pockets, further skyrocketing the already high cost of living and sinking purchasing power to indigence levels.

This daily economic suffocation has deepened in the dramatic context of the national tragedy triggered by the two devastating earthquakes on June 24. But while the people suffer the destruction of the catastrophe and state neglect, the employer government flatly refuses to decree a single general emergency wage increase.

In a fully dollarized de facto economy and under this perverse dynamic, businessmen do not suffer: they immediately pass on any exchange rate variation to final prices in bolivars, shielding and increasing their profits. While the cost of the basic food basket becomes unattainable for the vast majority, employers and speculators continue to dip into the pockets of working families.

The figures of this social catastrophe do not lie: income poverty already affects 77% of the population, with a chilling 39% sunk in extreme poverty. Put plainly and directly: out of every ten Venezuelans, at least seven live below the poverty line and four try to survive day by day in absolute indigence.

While inflation wreaks havoc and all kinds of prices and inputs — from food to rents and urban transport fares — are automatically indexed to the dollar, the only thing that remains firmly frozen is the wages of workers.

All this situation, beyond imperialist propaganda, has worsened since the military attacks of January 3. US imperialism has accelerated the imposition of a genuine neocolonial protectorate over Venezuela, directly controlling the country’s main sources of wealth, primarily oil and minerals.

As recently uncovered by the Financial Times: ‘The United States has collected around 13 billion dollars from Venezuelan oil. Where is that money?’ With sheer audacity, the imperialist government announces as great ‘aid’, as ‘grace’, that they will send 300 million, of which only 180 would have been made effective, out of 13 billion! From our oil! Along with this blatant theft and cynicism, the imperialist power has taken advantage of the crisis and national tragedy to consolidate its occupation presence, practically installing military bases and taking direct control of the Maiquetía International Airport and the port of La Guaira.

Faced with the situation in the country, worsened by the earthquake tragedy, sectors of the left have proposed ten emergency measures to respond to the economic and social catastrophe. Among them, an immediate wage increase equal to the basic basket is demanded, indexed monthly according to real inflation. Also necessary is a ban on layoffs, because, although ‘job stability’ formally still exists, cases of workers affected by the tragedy who are being fired are multiplying.

That in the midst of such an emergency, the meager worker income continues to be taxed with the VAT is a true dispossession. The immediate and urgent elimination of VAT on all popular consumer products is essential, and as a priority, on menstrual hygiene and care items for women and children. Enough of confiscations and looted funds. A public works plan is demanded, under the management of workers and communities, for the reconstruction of areas affected by the earthquakes.

The Venezuelan working class has been pushed into a situation of historic indigence. The way out of this impasse will not come from the plans of US imperialism — which has already shown it is only subjugation and theft of our resources — nor from agreements or pacts from above, even under US tutelage, nor from this collaborationist government of Delcy Rodríguez, which unloads the crisis onto the backs of the people.

For this, the unity of the working class, active and retired, from the public and private sectors, is fundamental. Trade union organizations and confederations are demanded to lead the struggle, taking on the most heartfelt demands of the popular majorities. Only the mobilization and class independence of workers can stop the barbarism and conquer our demands.