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Venezuela protests: Maduro boosts minimum wage by 60% | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a 60% increase in the country's minimum wage, effective from Monday. | Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a 60% increase in the country's minimum wage, effective from Monday. |
Including food subsidies, the worst-paid workers will now take home about 200,000 bolivars a month - less than $50 (£38) at the black market rate. | Including food subsidies, the worst-paid workers will now take home about 200,000 bolivars a month - less than $50 (£38) at the black market rate. |
The pay rise is the third this year from Mr Maduro, and aims to benefit government workers and the military. | The pay rise is the third this year from Mr Maduro, and aims to benefit government workers and the military. |
It comes a month after deadly protests erupted in the country. | It comes a month after deadly protests erupted in the country. |
Demonstrators first took to the streets on 1 April to demand elections, after the courts tried to strengthen the president's grip on power. | Demonstrators first took to the streets on 1 April to demand elections, after the courts tried to strengthen the president's grip on power. |
Marches in various cities descended into clashes between riot police and protesters, which have left 28 people dead. | Marches in various cities descended into clashes between riot police and protesters, which have left 28 people dead. |
Observers fear 1 May could bring a spike in unrest, with opposition and pro-government supporters planning rival marches. | Observers fear 1 May could bring a spike in unrest, with opposition and pro-government supporters planning rival marches. |
Pope Francis has offered to mediate between the Maduro government and its opponents, but the opposition has rejected the overture. | Pope Francis has offered to mediate between the Maduro government and its opponents, but the opposition has rejected the overture. |
Its leaders say the president has installed a dictatorship, and blame him for Venezuela's economic crisis. | Its leaders say the president has installed a dictatorship, and blame him for Venezuela's economic crisis. |
Even a 60% pay rise may come as scant consolation to millions of the country's workers, whose buying power has been damaged by a stricken currency. Critics say the move will merely fuel the country's runaway inflation rate. | Even a 60% pay rise may come as scant consolation to millions of the country's workers, whose buying power has been damaged by a stricken currency. Critics say the move will merely fuel the country's runaway inflation rate. |
Venezuela has one of the world's highest inflation rates, which could hit 720% this year according to the International Monetary Fund. | Venezuela has one of the world's highest inflation rates, which could hit 720% this year according to the International Monetary Fund. |
Even residents of traditionally pro-Maduro districts have been joining the protests against him in recent days. | Even residents of traditionally pro-Maduro districts have been joining the protests against him in recent days. |
"I have been a month now joining in all the protests because I want my country to be free of this dictatorship," said 42-year-old Yoleida Viloria, a hairdresser from the capital, Caracas. | "I have been a month now joining in all the protests because I want my country to be free of this dictatorship," said 42-year-old Yoleida Viloria, a hairdresser from the capital, Caracas. |
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