By Mircely Guanipa, Deisy Buitrago, and Marianna Parraga
CARACAS/MARACAY, Venezuela (Multibagger) - Over a hundred employees at Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, plus others in the oil ministry and parts of the public sector, have been forced to resign over their political views since last month's disputed election, workers and unions said.
The government says President Nicolas Maduro won a third term in the July 28 contest, but the opposition says partial vote tallies indicate its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won a resounding victory.
Top PDVSA executives have instructed administrative and operational workers to attend rallies backing Maduro and supervised their social media accounts, according to four company sources and a union leader.
Employees who have not supported Maduro or have disputed the official voting results are being pushed out, they said.
"They call you to human resources, sit you down, and give you a resignation letter you must sign," a source familiar with the situation said.
Venezuela's oil ministry and PDVSA did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
The situation could further exacerbate a chronic staffing issue at PDVSA, where a lack of qualified workers has hit many aspects of the company's operations. Its oil output has declined to a fraction of what it was a decade ago.
At PDVSA's headquarters in Caracas, about 100 administrative employees have been pushed out since the election, according to two of the sources. Over 30 others at PDVSA's Eastern division, in charge of most of Venezuela's crude output, have been made to resign, the country's largest oil union said in a statement over the weekend.
"This is political retaliation against numerous workers who in the most recent electoral process have shown themselves against Maduro," union leader Jose Bodas said in the statement.
PDVSA has some 90,000 employees, according to figures given this year by its CEO, Pedro Tellechea.
Other public offices have employed a similar crackdown, including several ministries, state power company Corpoelec, state industrial conglomerates, and petrochemical firm Pequiven, Caracas' subway system, and public media, according to Bodas, other unions, and sources from those entities.
At least eight employees from the oil ministry have been pushed out for political reasons, a source close to the matter said.
Multibagger could not immediately ascertain the total number of public employees who have left their jobs in the three weeks since the election.
"They make an argument about the smallest things, social media status, a message in your profile, a quote against the government. They take a screenshot and pass it to human resources," said a refinery employee, who asked not to be identified due to fear of retaliation.
Western countries and international bodies including the United Nations have called on Venezuela's government to release a full tally of last month's votes and stop persecution after anti-Maduro protests led to 23 deaths and over 2,400 arrests.
Analysis:
The political retaliation affecting Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA and other public sector entities could have severe implications for the country's oil output and operations. With employees being forced to resign over their political views, there is a risk of losing qualified workers, further exacerbating the staffing issues PDVSA is already facing. This could lead to a decline in oil production, impacting not only the company but also the country's economy as a whole.
Additionally, the crackdown on dissenting voices within public offices raises concerns about freedom of expression and human rights in Venezuela. The international community has called for transparency in the electoral process and an end to persecution, highlighting the need for a fair and democratic system in the country.
Investors and stakeholders in the oil industry should closely monitor the situation in Venezuela and assess the potential risks to their investments. The political instability and challenges facing PDVSA could have far-reaching consequences, and it is important to stay informed and prepared for any developments that may impact the financial markets.