Wages increased in Bolivia after a surge in oil prices

Bolivian President Evo Morales, announced Wednesday, January 5 a series of measures, including a wage increase of 20% in "police, military, health and education," to cushion a sharp rise in prices fuels, a source of social mobilization since Monday in the Andean country. In a televised speech on the eve of new events and transport strikes, planned in major cities across the country, Morales said it had already signed the decree establishing the 20% wage increase for 2011 for these four professions.

The socialist president also announced the creation of a "crop insurance" for poor farmers, the investment of 300,000 dollars in new water infrastructure in the country by July, premiums in the public service 2011 and state intervention to ensure some food prices such as maize. Morales, a leader of the Latin American left, is facing one of the trickiest social events since taking office in 2006, after deciding to end state subsidies to fuel prices, causing increases from 73% to 83% at the pump.

He again defended the removal of subsidies, which for years kept the price of fuel in Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in South America, well below its neighbors Peru, Chile, Brazil or Argentina, sparking a strong smuggling. By this measure, "I do not treat my image of President, I heal the national economy," explained Morales, who had previously deplored "bleeding" that accounted for $ 380 million annual fuel subsidies, for evaporating half in smuggling.

The Head of State conceded that inflation should eventually settle at between 7 and 8% for 2010, even "a little more" as a result of the impact of rising fuel prices. Several trade unions and social movements have provided demonstrations and paralyzes cities Thursday to protest against rising fuel, the highest in thirty years.

They fear an immediate impact on prices of basic commodities, strangling the budgets of millions of Bolivians. Carriers have already passed unilaterally increased 100% on the price of travel, despite a 30% ceiling set their state.

• Prix Asie, belatedly (15/11/2010)
• Woman fired over medical marijuana to get day in high court (23/12/2010)
• Jelly ce vendredi 17 décembre à l'eclau, et lundi 20 à La Muse à Genève (15/12/2010)
• Parc national de Khao Sok - Lac - Khao Sok, Thailand (21/12/2010)
• Après moi, rien (17/11/2010)