Caracas international airport reduces staff to make up for tax losses 

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Caracas (Simon Bolivar) international airport at Maiquetia authority (Iaaim) has laid off 90 workers as a reaction to tax and other income losses incurred during the December-January national stoppage. 

Iaaim director Captain (ret.) Jose Vielma Mora says the company lost more than 14 billion bolivares in Q1 and argues that there is no other solution but to dismiss workers. 

• The 90 workers are not on the permanent payroll and their contract has already expired . 

Over the last two years, 426  persons were given contract jobs at the airport in operations, public relations, protocol, security, maintenance and marketing.  The first 30 layoffs took place last week and included 14 security agents. 

Vielma Mora says he knows the dismissals will hit an already suffering Vargas State but adds that he hopes to recover taxes and normal income by the end of April.