And what Hugo Chavez wants, Hugo usually gets. But in a country that saw about 20 percent inflation last year alone, what will it mean for the economy?

More from AP:

“Labor Minister Roberto Hernandez announced Monday that he would present a proposed bill before the end of the year to reduce the workday from 8 to 6 hours, improve employee benefits and establish “more forceful” penalties for businesses that violate labor laws.


The president’s allies hold a majority within the National Assembly and most bills proposed by Chavez’s administration are approved without considerable delay.


Chavez presented the same proposal as part of a constitutional reform package that voters rejected last December.”

In lieu of that, he’s been pushing his socialist reforms through piecemeal. Business owners, naturally, protest that the shorter workday could force them to reduce staff or shut down entirely.

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)