Venezuelan workers sue state at UN over denial of justice in labor crisis

Venezuelan workers and non-governmental organizations have escalated their fight for fair wages to the international stage, filing a complaint against the state with the UN Human Rights Committee. They allege a "continued denial of justice" by Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which has failed to respond to a legal action concerning "sufficient salary" for nearly three years.

The complaint, disseminated by the NGO Surgentes, argues that obtaining justice within Venezuela is materially impossible due to the state's conduct. The workers and organizations are urging the UN to deem their complaint admissible, acknowledge the violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and demand immediate reparations. These include full access to judicial records, a reasoned ruling from the TSJ, and reforms to prevent "procedural silence."

The legal battle began on July 25, 2023, when petitioners filed a constitutional protection action with the TSJ. They sought recourse against government omissions regarding minimum wage increases and a "bonus policy" that they claim effectively nullifies the right to social benefits, vacation bonuses, and profit-sharing.

"After two years and eleven months, the highest court in the country has responded with absolute institutional silence," stated the NGOs and workers. They further reported that the Constitutional Chamber has neither admitted nor rejected the appeal, scheduled hearings, nor allowed petitioners access to their case files. "We went to the TSJ to protect us from the violation of the right to a sufficient salary, and instead, our right to justice was violated there," explained Antonio González Plessmann, a member of Surgentes.

This action follows a recent announcement on April 30 by Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, of a minimum income increase to $240 for workers and $70 for pensioners. However, this increase was met with indignation from public sector unions, as it was implemented through bonuses that do not affect labor benefits like vacations and social contributions. The minimum wage itself has remained unchanged since 2022 at 130 bolivars, equivalent to about $0.22 at the current official exchange rate.