Jorge L. Veranes Vera, a seasoned security guard with 14 years of experience at the H-2 cafeteria in the José Martí District of Santiago de Cuba, has raised concerns about a serious labor rights violation. Since November 2024, he has not received any salary. Despite the cafeteria’s operations under the Municipal Gastronomy Company and part of the Family Attention System (SAF), the generated revenue hasn't translated into employee paychecks.
Veranes reported, “We haven’t been paid since November 2024, and when we inquire, we are told that the company has debts and can’t pay us. The cafeteria has been selling rum, cigarettes, snacks, soft drinks, beer, tobacco, fritters, and other pre-prepared items, yet there’s never any money to pay us,” as stated in his letter published in the official newspaper, Trabajadores.
He further explained that the usual response they receive is that there are debts, suggesting the company is using their wages to settle these. "Just before May Day, we were promised an advance of one month's salary, with the remaining four months to be paid soon, but that promise was not fulfilled," he added.
Worker Discontent and Constitutional Violations
Veranes expressed his frustration, pointing out that the company seems indifferent to how employees manage their financial obligations. They continue working to provide services to the public, especially since the unit serves those considered vulnerable.
This scenario is not just a severe administrative oversight; it directly infringes on the constitutional right to a salary. Article 31 of the Cuban Constitution highlights work as a fundamental value and a social right and duty, which should be the main source of income ensuring a dignified life and material and spiritual well-being. Additionally, Article 65 guarantees the right to fair compensation based on work quality and quantity, following the socialist principle of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their work."
The necessity for a state employee to address the official press to demand basic remuneration underscores the level of institutional neglect. Amidst inflation, shortages, and government promises of leaving no one behind, instances like this expose a bureaucratic system more inclined to oppress workers than to support them.
Wider Labor Issues in Cuba
A woman from Esmeralda, Camagüey, reported in December 2024 about banks enforcing a "piecemeal" cash withdrawal method due to cash shortages. Meanwhile, tobacco sector employees continue to receive meager wages, not exceeding $30 monthly at the current exchange rate, despite the government's sale of 200 million cigars last year, generating $38 million in revenue. This case clearly illustrates the Marxist concept of surplus value: the value workers create in production that they do not receive as wages.
The Cuban regime's infringement on labor rights is evident in cases like withholding most of the earnings that Bahamas pays for each healthcare professional sent under bilateral medical cooperation. Several former medical brigade members have confirmed that despite the Bahamian government's public commitment to pay Cuban doctors directly, salary confiscation mechanisms by Havana persist.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has voiced concerns over Cuba's precarious labor conditions and lack of union rights amid a severe socioeconomic crisis. The Commission highlighted hyperinflation, the resulting loss of purchasing power for workers, frequent power outages, shortages of basic food and medicines, and a collapse of the public health system.
Other reported labor rights violations include long working hours without overtime pay, low wages insufficient for basic needs, and poor working conditions such as lack of tools or unsanitary environments. The regime has announced efforts to draft a new Labor Code, potentially redefining labor relations in the country. However, details on this document remain undisclosed, and no participatory mechanisms involving independent unions or workers in its formulation have been established.
The anticipation of legal changes comes amidst widespread dissatisfaction and emigration, with more Cubans leaving the public sector due to low wages, overwork, and an absence of real incentives.
Labor Rights and Challenges in Cuba
What are the main labor rights violations in Cuba?
In Cuba, workers face violations such as delayed or unpaid wages, low salaries insufficient for basic needs, lack of overtime compensation, and poor working conditions. Additionally, there is a lack of independent unions and adequate representation.
How does the Cuban Constitution address labor rights?
The Cuban Constitution emphasizes work as a fundamental value and a social right and duty, intending it to be the primary source of income for a dignified life. It assures fair compensation based on work quality and quantity.
What actions are being taken to address labor issues in Cuba?
The Cuban government has announced the drafting of a new Labor Code, though details and participatory mechanisms are lacking. This initiative is seen as a response to widespread labor dissatisfaction and emigration from the public sector.