The workers need 122 dollars to pay for a Christmas dinner and clothes for at least one of the two December celebrations, since the payment of utilities for the majority does not reach 120 dollars.
Text: Francesca Diaz / Caroní Mail
Facing the payment of the third fraction for utilities for public workers, buying the premieres, paying for the Christmas dinner and the end of the year party, it becomes increasingly unattainable for the workers before the devaluation of the amount they receive and the price increase.
Although the Venezuelan Executive has complied with the payment dates, the reality is that the rises in the dollar during the months of August and September have managed to devalue the amount. According to workers from basic companies and other unions, the amount decreased by at least 20 dollars between the first two fractions.
Correo del Caroní carried out a survey in shopping centers in Puerto Ordaz to find out the value of traditional December premieres. To collect the information, a family of four members was considered: parents and two children.
Basic jean pants for both women and men have a value of 15 dollars. A basic men’s dress shirt costs $15, while more formal ones are around $20.
Women’s blouses in the cheapest stores are priced at $10, with multiple models, the most expensive can reach $30.
Finally, children’s pants range between 10 and 15 dollars. Shirts for boys between 6 and 11 years old are priced at $12, as are dresses for girls or children’s blouses.
According to this information, a worker needs approximately 92 dollars to dress his family for the Christmas festivities, thinking of a single change of clothes when, traditionally, it was released on December 24 and 31.
The workers have denounced that the amount has been decreasing with each payment. In October they received 200 dollars, however, on November 2 the amount dropped to 180 due to the rise in the price of the US currency. In this order of ideas, they assure that an amount of between 150 and 120 dollars is expected for the third fraction, which represents a 20% decrease in the purchasing power of the payment.
For his part, Jean Franco, a Sidor worker belonging to the Unidad en la Coincidencia labor organization, stressed that the survey was benevolent with prices, since, according to the stores he frequents, “pants are at $20, just like shirts , that would have to be multiplied by two considering the premiere of children for 24 and 31 ”.
“A minimum of 150 dollars is needed because the shoes are around between 35 and 60 dollars, this is speaking of children, for adolescent boys it would be more. A family that has 2 or 3 kids can’t afford it,” said Franco, who assured that the workers have chosen not to dress themselves or their wives in order to allocate all the money to their children.
Declarants recalled that, in previous decades, premieres involved purchases for all family members, who acquired up to 5 pieces to use for Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners.
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At least $30 of profits costs Christmas dinner
However, the most important of these dates are the Christmas dinners that bring the family together at the table. By December 2021, the ham bread had a value of approximately 10 dollars; however, this year the price increased 40% for a value between 14 and 15 dollars.
On the other hand, the traditional hallacas doubled their value compared to last year, settling at 2 dollars per unit.
A family of 5 members must spend at least 30 dollars to enjoy a simple dinner, while the country’s minimum wage is only 14 dollars per month.
A public worker must spend at least 122 dollars between clothing and food for only one of the festivities, 24 or 31, compared to profits that vary between 100 and 200 dollars.
Dressing up and dining on both festivities is unattainable and doing it on just one of them would depend on not having any other extra expenses other than Christmas food and premieres.
It should be noted that during the month of October the Venezuelan Chamber of the Clothing Industry predicted that the cost of clothing would increase by 80% by the end of the year.
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christmas without toys
This survey did not include Christmas gifts for children, which is also a Venezuelan Christmas tradition. Since retirees are in even more precarious conditions, since their profits correspond to only 60 dollars, which would leave them completely unable to afford food and clothing.
“It is not enough for food, much less for clothes and shoes. Inflation eats profits. In the first payment I received 220 dollars. In the second 180, and for the third I expect 120”, expressed a worker who preferred to remain anonymous.
Workers told the outlet that decades ago the utilities allowed them to pay for clothes, Christmas dinners, toys for their children, and repairs to their homes. They also regretted that the companies no longer comply with the delivery of the Christmas toy, a benefit that corresponded to workers with children under 18 years of age.
The president of the College of Nurses, Maritza Moreno, highlighted that the amount received by her union is one of the lowest, in this sense, she asserted that it is not enough even to make the 15-day market, much less so that mothers can dress their children.
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