Economy
The Venezuelan government payroll increased by 12.7 percent in the last 12 months after the State hired 259,781 people as public employees between September 2008 and September 2009.

Now, there are 2,293,599 people working for the government, according to data disclosed by the official National Statistics Institute (INE).

The Executive branch of government has implemented a comprehensive nationalization policy that has affected some private companies which are considered strategic by the government. This has led to the transfer of a large number of workers from the private sector to government posts.

As a result, the government has become a larger employer. At the present time, 19.2 percent of the working population in Venezuela is employed by the government, 2.1 percent up compared to last year (17.1 percent).

This increase in the government's payroll occurs at a time when the National Assembly is preparing an amendment to the Organic Law on Labor, although the move has been postponed.

Falling revenues in Venezuela due to lower oil prices in global markets has complicated the fiscal situation of the government.

In contrast, the participation of the private sector in the labor market has been cut in the same proportion as the public sector has increased its participation in the labor market.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

Suhelis Tejero Puntes
EL UNIVERSAL