• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 10 / 28 / 2010

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The government will help laid-off state workers, but without dedicating any funds, an article in Communist Party daily Granma said, two days after new regulations made it clear to Cubans that austerity is here to stay.

At the same time, there won’t be any long-term unemployment, the article suggests. “No one declared disposable will be left to their devices, but this much can be said: Necessarily, they will have to work, because if they don’t, they won’t receive any income,” the article, authored by Yaima Puig Meneses says.

Workers unable to find a job after the maximum five months of continued salary payments conceded by the new regulations can “exceptionally” apply for economic help from a local social-assistance office, the article explains.

Laid-off workers who have contributed to Social Security will be able to draw a pension if they are within five years of retirement age. Also, not all benefits related to a state job will be lost. Even if their housing is work-related, laid-off tenants won’t be evicted from their homes. Laid-off parents, for instance, won’t lose workplace daycare arrangements for their children — “as long as they work, no matter whether or not in the state sector,” the article said.

Source: www.cubastandard.com/2010/10/27/