Political Retaliation in Venezuela’s PDVSA

By Mircely Guanipa, Deisy Buitrago and Marianna Parraga
CARACAS/MARACAY, Venezuela (Reuters) – Over a hundred employees at Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, as well as others in the oil ministry and public sector, have been compelled to resign due to their political views since last month’s contested election, according to workers and unions.

The government claims President Nicolas Maduro secured a third term in the July 28 election, while the opposition asserts that preliminary vote counts indicate their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, achieved a significant victory.

Top PDVSA executives have directed administrative and operational staff to attend pro-Maduro rallies and have monitored their social media accounts, according to multiple company sources and a union leader. Employees who do not support Maduro or challenge the official results are reportedly being pushed out.

“They call you to human resources, sit you down, and give you a resignation letter you must sign,” said a source familiar with the situation.

Venezuela’s oil ministry and PDVSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This situation could worsen PDVSA’s ongoing staffing crisis, exacerbated by a shortage of qualified workers affecting operations. The company’s oil output has dwindled to a fraction of its level a decade ago.

Around 100 administrative employees at PDVSA’s headquarters in Caracas have been forced out since the election, according to two sources. Additionally, over 30 employees from PDVSA’s Eastern division, responsible for most of Venezuela’s crude output, have also resigned, according to the country’s largest oil union’s recent statement.

Union leader Jose Bodas stated, “This is political retaliation against numerous workers who in the most recent electoral process have shown themselves against Maduro.”

PDVSA has approximately 90,000 employees, as reported this year by its CEO, Pedro Tellechea. Other public offices are enacting similar crackdowns, including ministries, the state power company Corpoelec, state industrial conglomerates, petrochemical firm Pequiven, Caracas’ subway system, and public media, based on information from Bodas, other unions, and insiders from these organizations.

At least eight employees from the oil ministry have been forced out for political reasons, a source close to the situation disclosed. Reuters was unable to confirm the total number of public workers who have left their positions in the three weeks following the election.

“They cite trivial matters—a social media status, a message in your profile, a quote against the government. They take a screenshot and pass it to human resources,” shared a refinery employee, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation.

Western nations and international organizations, including the United Nations, have urged Venezuela’s government to publish a comprehensive vote tally from last month’s election and to cease the persecution, following anti-Maduro protests that resulted in 23 deaths and over 2,400 arrests.