- ...if you are physically and mentally able to work in the fields, the government can ask —or better yet, order— your company to send you to work out there.
And just to be clear on the obligatory nature of the resolution, article 3 states that public and private sector businesses “are obliged to comply with the strict rule of this administrative act”.
Though the resolution sets the conditions for payment and social protection of workers, it leaves many unanswered questions: how will workers be selected? How will workers express their will to undertake the secondment? What are the penalties for not complying? How will the worker or business owner know they are not complying? What are the tax risks and consequences?
And lurking behind it all, a dark suspicion: isn’t this a recipe for forced labour?
Amnesty International says yes: New regime effectively amounts to forced labour
Resolution No. 9855 begins on p. 7 of Gaceta Oficial 40-950.
Also worth a look: Watches of Chavismo, a blog of the official servants of the people of Venezuela and their fine watches.
Here's the revolutionary mayor of Guanta, Jonathan Marín:
