Venezuela ends 2-day work week

(Baonghean.vn) - The Venezuelan government on June 13 relaxed its nationwide electricity-saving program, ending the controversial two-day workweek that began in April for nearly 3 million public sector workers.

Venezuelans walk past an electric pole covered with cables in Caracas, Venezuela on April 2. Photo: Reuters.

Energy Minister Luis Motta said that thanks to rising water levels at the Guri reservoir, which supplies two-thirds of the OPEC nation's electricity, state employees would return to work until 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Weekend power rationing will also end, and schools that were forced to close on Fridays to save electricity will reopen throughout the week.

“We are winning!” the minister said on Twitter.

Officials say the measures are an emergency response to this year's drought and have helped reduce energy consumption in the country of 30 million people.

However, critics, including the opposition coalition, have slammed the moves, saying that closing schools or giving public employees time off would not change anything because they would simply use their electrical appliances elsewhere.

They blame the government for the power shortages on corruption, lack of investment and poor management, not the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Power and water cuts in recent months have added to the hardships of Venezuelans already suffering from a severe economic downturn, shortages of everything from milk to medicine, soaring prices and long lines outside stores.

Thao Linh

(According to Reuters)