Abstract
Background:Venezuela, the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, is facing the worst economic, social and political crisis in its history; which has notably affected the quality of life of the workforce and the entire population.Objectives:Identify and analyze the main social factors derived from the Venezuelan crisis, which are affecting the workers’ health and working conditions.Methods:Document study. Several sources of information from the last twenty years were consulted, ranging from public statistics and reports, newspaper articles, and results of scientific research. The information gathered was carefully studied to ensure that only reliable sources were used to ultimately reach valid conclusions.Results:Both workers from the formal and informal sector and their families are struggling to fulfill their basic needs. Low salaries and soaring inflation have resulted in a dramatic reduction in the purchasing power of the people. General violence and high prices of basic goods are some of the major problems affecting workers both inside and outside of their working environment. Being a formal employee is no longer a guarantee for an acceptable quality of life. As a result, over 1.6 million Venezuelans have left their country since 2015 in a migration crisis never seen before in Latin America.Conclusion:Quality of life and wellbeing of most of the Venezuelan population has being deteriorated in the last 5 years and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is not a priority for enterprises in the middle of the economic emergency and general deterioration of daily life.Despite the relevance of this problem, research on the subject is very limited. Recent and pertinent data is needed to properly identify and measure the risks and negative consequences that workers and families are exposed caused by the ongoing crisis.
Highlights
As you read this paper, it is very likely that the Venezuela’s statistics have already changed as events unfold at a rapid pace.Out of the 32 million people living in Venezuela [1], almost half are working (13,100,203 people have some sort of occupation) [2], and all of them and their family members are being affected in different ways by the current economic climate
The declining economy and highly dangerous environments have significantly decreased the quality of life for Venezuelan workers and their families, to the point where no longer home or workplace are safe places
To understand part of the nature of the Venezuelan crisis, one must understand the complex mechanism of the existing economy and the currency exchange controls
Summary
To understand part of the nature of the Venezuelan crisis, one must understand the complex mechanism of the existing economy and the currency exchange controls. There are shortages of food, water, electricity, medicine, and medical supplies that have contributed to an increasing humanitarian crisis affecting much of the country: The country is experiencing outbreaks of infectious diseases: There has been a 205% increase in new Malaria cases [58] In 2017, over 400,000 cases of Malaria were reported [62]; there is almost a complete lack of access to tuberculosis screening for vulnerable populations such as prisoners and indigenous communities [58] and there are no official numbers about other mosquito borne illnesses (Dengue, Zica, Chicungunya and yellow fever) All these reasons have led CDC to publish a warning –level 3, avoid nonessential travel to Venezuela. The subsistence-level wages and street violence, difficulties in the commute (deficiency in public transport services, high costs of space parts for private cars, taxis), severely limit the access to outdoors activities, meals in restaurants, movies, night club activities, walking freely on streets, exercise, or even travel inside the country for touristic purposes
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