A contingent of Cuban doctors stationed in Angola under a mission sanctioned by the Cuban regime is taking a stand against what they describe as the "theft" of their wages. They are preparing a lawsuit against the military conglomerate's corporation, Antillana Exportadora S.A. (Antex), part of Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), due to years of breaches in their contractual payments.
The healthcare professionals assert that the regime is withholding the cash payment of the dollars that Angola pays for their services. These funds, as per their contract, were supposed to be deposited in foreign currency accounts in their names. Instead, they receive partial payment on a "Clásica" card, which is restricted to use within Cuba and does not allow access to cash. This information was reported over the weekend by several independent media outlets.
A meeting held in Luanda, Angola's capital, lasting over two hours, turned into a collective outcry against the corporation, as reported by 14ymedio. Not a single voice at the gathering supported the current measures, with even military doctors condemning the abuse and some calling for the right to peaceful protest.
The dissatisfaction among the doctors extends beyond financial issues; it is deeply personal. After spending years away from Cuba and missing significant life events like the birth of their children and the deaths of family members, or facing diseases such as malaria in remote areas, many feel their sacrifices have been futile. "Violated, robbed, disappointed, that's how I feel," confessed a doctor from Havana who has spent over four years in Angola. Another specialist questioned, "I didn't come to this country to buy tomato paste or toilet paper; I came to improve my family's financial situation."
GAESA, sanctioned by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), received over $1 billion from Angola through Antex between 2013 and 2017, according to data cited by the independent outlet El Toque. Yet doctors report that their savings are locked in accounts without real value, while in Cuba's domestic market, stores proliferate that only accept physical dollars.
The doctors sent a letter to Miguel Díaz-Canel on July 14, as mentioned by CubaNet, denouncing the breach of contract and demanding cash payment in dollars. With no response forthcoming, they are now preparing to take an unprecedented step by filing a lawsuit against Antex for breach of contract. "We don't want virtual money; we only accept our dollars," summed up a doctor from Santiago de Cuba in statements to 14ymedio.
Laritza Diversent, a lawyer and director of Cubalex, told journalist Mario J. Pentón recently that the case fits the International Labor Organization's definition of modern slavery. She reaffirmed to CubaNet that "they do not voluntarily share their salary; they do so because they are in a state of poverty. It is a form of exploitation."
With only 200 dollars provided in Angolan kwanzas (the official currency of Angola) to cover basic needs and the rest withheld in Cuba, the doctors feel their life plans are being shattered. "You are destroying entire families' plans," warned a specialist at the Luanda meeting. The shared sentiment among the doctors is that the regime is not only violating their contract but also betraying the personal sacrifices they make in the name of so-called "medical cooperation."
With the lawsuit in motion, the doctors aim not only to reclaim their dollars but also to bring to light a reality that many have endured in silence until now.
Cuban Doctors' Lawsuit Against GAESA
What are the Cuban doctors in Angola accusing GAESA of?
The Cuban doctors accuse GAESA, through its corporation Antex, of withholding their wages and not fulfilling the contractual agreements of paying them in cash dollars.
How have the doctors been affected by the alleged wage theft?
The doctors have been financially strained, with their salaries locked in accounts without real value, and personally affected by the loss of significant life events while serving in Angola.
What steps have the doctors taken to address their grievances?
They have sent a letter to Miguel Díaz-Canel demanding payment in cash dollars and are now preparing to file a lawsuit against Antex for breach of contract.