Cantv retirees protest benefit cuts and healthcare failures in Venezuela

Retirees and pensioners of the Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (Cantv) have launched protests across Venezuela to demand the fulfillment of collective bargaining agreements and improved healthcare services.

In Caracas, demonstrators blocked Avenida Libertador to protest the reduction of social benefits and the lack of coverage for hospitalization, surgery, and maternity. Protesters specifically noted that a $50 bonus was eliminated and criticized the transition from a self-administered insurance model to one managed by the insurer Vértice. Some demonstrators held the company's president, Major General Iván Hernández Dala, responsible for the current state of benefits.

In Carúpano, Sucre state, approximately 80 retirees joined the national movement, protesting outside the local Cantv headquarters. They reported a lack of essential medical services, including dental and surgical consultations. Additionally, they highlighted a decrease in the ‘bono vital’ (vital bonus), which reportedly dropped from $200 per month in early 2023 to $150 in June. The company has cited insufficient funds as the reason for the reduction.