The coordinator of the National Association of Cement Workers in Venezuela (Antracem), has claimed that around 75 per cent of the more than 9000 workers employed within the local cement industry earn the minimum salary, adding that collective agreements have not been updated since 2008.
Orlando Chirinos has alleged that 45 per cent of collective agreements are not being observed, and is therefore demanding new negotiations to establish new agreements. He is now calling for workers to receive an increase of at least 200 per cent to meet the current rise in the cost of living.
Mr Chirinos also claims that the sector is only operating at 50 per cent of its total capacity, as the country has capacity to produce some 9Mt of cement, but it is only producing half of that figure. (Source: Esmerk Latin American News)
