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Cost of living issues have persisted in Venezuela since the US abducted former President Nicolas Maduro in January.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Published On 9 Apr 2026<\/span>9 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Union leaders, retirees and public sector workers in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas have marched towards the presidential palace to demand higher wages and dignified pensions, only to be met by police blockades.<\/p>\n The protests on Thursday came the day after acting President Delcy Rodriguez<\/a> went on national television to ask public and private sector workers for patience as her government works to improve the country\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n Workers\u2019 wages for years have not allowed them to afford basic necessities. Many public sector workers survive on roughly $160 per month, while the average private sector employee earned about $237 last year.<\/p>\n \u201cCall for elections and leave. That\u2019s what the Venezuelan worker wants today,\u201d said Jose Patines, a marching union leader, outlining what he would like to see from the country\u2019s interim government.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause if, on May 1, they come with an increase of a few dollars, no, we don\u2019t need it. We want a salary with purchasing power.\u201d<\/p>\n National Police officers were deployed early on Thursday across downtown Caracas to intercept the march.<\/p>\n Several times, demonstrators successfully breached initial barriers. Reinforced blockades eventually halted the crowd, leaving the majority of protesters roughly two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Miraflores presidential palace.<\/p>\n There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests during the scuffles between police and protesters.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n