Venezuela's minister rules out layoffs in public sector reorganization

Venezuela's Minister of Education and head of the Presidential Commission for Government Restructuring, Héctor Rodríguez, has assured that the ongoing transformation of the state apparatus will not result in public sector layoffs. Instead, the initiative focuses on reorganizing the state structure to enhance efficiency and strategically reassign personnel.

During a meeting with magistrates of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, Rodríguez outlined the commission's objective: to scrutinize the operations of government institutions and redeploy staff where necessary. This process is part of a broader evaluation of the public sector's current size and scope.

Sources present at the meeting indicated that Rodríguez emphasized the goal is not to dismiss public servants but to "reorder them where they are needed." He also proposed consolidating several government departments into single physical locations, particularly at the municipal level, to streamline operations.

The restructuring initiative is a key component of the executive branch's efforts to align public administration with current economic conditions and eliminate redundant functions among state agencies. Rodríguez acknowledged that the government payroll is "unsustainable," but clarified that the figure encompasses employees across national, state, and municipal levels, distinguishing it from the other branches of public power.

Data previously presented by Rodríguez indicated that the public administration employs around 3.5 million workers. The minister also noted the extensive nature of the governmental structure, comprising numerous ministries, vice-ministries, institutes, and affiliated companies. The government is exploring adjustments to optimize resources and prevent overlapping responsibilities, with Rodríguez stating the aim is to "protect the employment and income of Venezuelans" and ensure the effective delivery of social rights and protection for vulnerable populations.