Venezuela’s new labor law “first in transition to socialism” [View all]

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http://peoplesworld.org/venezuela-s-new-labor-law-first-in-transition-to-socialism/

In what Venezuela's government described as the "first law in the transition to socialism," President Hugo Chavez has signed into law new comprehensive labor legislation. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans marched through the streets of Caracas on May 1, International Workers' Day, to commemorate the signing of the historic document.

"The triumph of the people, of the workers, has never come about without a long process of resistance, of struggle, suffering even. This law, which I will have the honor of signing ... is the product of a long process of struggle," said President Chavez.

The legislation reduces the work week to 40 hours and seeks to abolish private sub-contracted labor in the country, which the state views as an exploitative practice and relic of neoliberal policies of the 1990s

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Earlier this year, Chavez announced a 32.5 percent increase in the monthly minimum wage, to be carried out in two phases. The first phase took effect on May 1 with an increase from 1,548 bolivares ($360) to 1,780 bolivares ($413.90). On September, it will increase another 15 percent to 2,047 bolivares ($476).

Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called the labor law "an instrument for constructing the highest stage of socialism," and contrasted it with the anti-worker laws that are being enacted in Spain where a quarter of the labor market is unemployed.

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