Private sector reluctant party in freeze extension
By Aaron W. Finkel
Daily Journal Staff
One day after agreeing
to a 60-day extension of
the controversial firing
freeze, private sector of-
ficials have conceded that
they went along with the
accord reluctantly and do
not believe it is in their
best interests. "We are
not satisfied (with the ex-
tension) but we signed,"
said Ernesto Navarro,
president of the National
Industrial Caouncil (Con-
industria).
Navarro, who served as
the private sector's repre-
sentative in the negotia-
tions between the Vene-
zuelan Workers Con-
federation (CTV) and the
Labor Ministry, claimed
that the new accord will
put the brakes on any
efforts to proceed with
industrial conversion.
Plant conversions in the
textile, clothing, chemicals
and plastics industries will
be especially hurt,
Navarro said.
The extension, which
prohibits companies from
cutting back on labor and
thereby reducing already
skyrocketing costs, could
result in many busineses
closing their doors, he
said.
Edgard Romero Nava
president 0£ the National
Trade and Services
Council, Consecomercio,
argued that "without a
doubt the extension is
unconstitutional."
However, Romero Nava
said he would refrain from
taking the issue to court.
"It wouldn't be worth it to
spend so much money be-
cause the court would take
one to two months to
reach a decision," and by
that time the extension 0
will be over.
"We will respect the
firing freeze for two
months but we do not
believe that it is the way to
promote employment in
the country," Romero
Nava said.
The decision shows tha
the government is not
ready to attack the social
problems of the country
and to implement its em-
ployment plan aimed at
creating 17,000 new jobs,
he added.