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National cement industry is operating with full normality
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Caracas, Aug 20. ABN.- The Minister of People's Power for Energy and Petroleum, Rafael Ramírez, confirmed that there is full normality in Venezuela's cement industry after the nationalization process of the three main transnational companies operating in the country: Holcim, Lafarge, and Cemex.
Rafael Ramírez made the announcement after holding a meeting with representatives of the transition commission that will have the control of the plants that were owned by Cementos Mexicanos (Cemex).
“After a supervision of the current situation, through the reports of technicians and transition (commission members), we can tell the country that nationalized cement plants are operating completely normal”, he assured.
Furthermore, he pointed out that work groups will be created in order to know and solve workers' problems regarding benefits, labor liabilities, and contracts, as well as to deal with environmental issues and technological improvement, which will require an aggressive investment plan.
Moreover, the Minister Rafael Ramírez asked Cemex workers to change their white helmets for “revolution's red helmets. From now on, workers will use red helmets, as happened with oil nationalization. You (workers) will be the symbol of national sovereignty in these facilities”, which will be aligned at disposal of the sovereign people.
In symbolical events carried out in diverse plants simultaneously, the Government recovered cement industries exercising their sovereignty right after the negotiation period ended.
“Private interests can not be above our people interests”, Ramírez said in a short speech addressed to a great amount of people attending to the act.
Ramírez informed that now the State owns 90% of the cement industry, which will allow to revise and decrease commercialization costs. He also ratified that workers' jobs are guaranteed.
Translated by Ernesto Aguilera |
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| ABN 11:23 am 20/08/2008 |
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