OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2012. PDVSA’s Paraguana Refining Center (CRP) paid the salary of 101 store clerks who worked in shops near the Amuay oil facilities that were affected by the event occurred on August 25.

Jesus Luongo, the general manager of the CRP, said that “PDVSA took responsibility for paying full salary and meal vouchers to workers of companies that cannot pay the salaries of store clerks due to damages; there are 14 companies that have been affected in this case.”

Luongo said that this commitment began on August 25 and will end when each worker will be dignified with a job that will be either equal or better than his/her previous employment.

Pedro Gonzalez, Legal Affairs Manager at CRP, said that 383 workers will be compensated for a total of 1.6 million bolivars (372,000 dollars) and this first payment is related to the August 15-September 15 period. “Most of the workers are the head of household and they received an immediate response. We worked along with the Ministry of Labor to bear witness to the process and guarantee the workers’ labor rights,” Gonzalez stated.

In the first phase, the CRP paid labor liabilities of the following stores: Importadora Lago Motors, Duo Supply, Susolteca, Rustilobo CA, Cardon 95, Bob Herramientas, Chadas Grill, Panaderia Chadas, Lago Express Extra, Licoreria Genesis, Inversiones Perez y Hurtado, Toripollo Pacific and Empanadas La Puerta.

Ivixa Blanco, storekeeper and owner of Empanadas La Puerta, a coffee shop, welcomed the prompt response to the problem, since her store and house were damaged. “I received a quick response; I always believed in PDVSA because since the event occurred they have paid attention to us.”

Relation with social projects

Those people who cannot be employed in their previous jobs will be compensated and will be part of the Mission Knowledge and Work. They will become skilled workers as they will receive the required training to work in the areas in which they have greatest expertise and skills.

Luongo said that in meetings held with employers and workers, CRP has compiled data with the profiles of both sectors. The idea is to help people not to remain unemployed, and assist them to get a job. This plan will be in place until the stores reopen, or until workers are reinstated.

The owners of the stores were grateful for the prompt action by the Venezuela oil industry.

These actions are part of the commitment made by the Bolivarian government led by President Hugo Chavez to provide care and attention to people in need of a house reconstruction or a new house, support to store owners, compensation to victims, pensions for widows and care for the families of deceased workers.