Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has announced plans for a wage increase, addressing years of economic hardship that have left salaries unable to meet basic living costs. The current minimum hourly wage is equivalent to just 27 US cents, and annual inflation has surpassed 600 per cent, eroding purchasing power across the country.
For many Venezuelans, monthly earnings—including state-provided bonuses—total around $150. This amount falls far short of the estimated $645 needed each month to cover a family’s basic food requirements. Labour unions and workers’ groups have long criticised these “poverty wages,” which have remained largely unchanged for years.
Speaking in a televised address, Rodríguez said the wage adjustment would be implemented on May 1, describing it as a “responsible” increase. She did not provide specific figures but emphasised that past economic “mistakes” must be corrected. The interim leader has been in office since the US-backed transition that followed the removal of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, and she faces mounting pressure from both domestic labour groups and the international community.
Unions have called for a demonstration in Caracas to press for further improvements and to voice ongoing concerns over low pay and inflation. The announcement comes amid broader scrutiny of Venezuela’s economic policies and the influence of external actors, including US President Donald Trump, who has publicly asserted control over the country’s oil sector.
The planned wage hike is seen as a critical, if initial, step toward addressing the severe cost-of-living crisis that continues to impact millions of Venezuelans.
