On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, ignited a storm of outrage among Cubans both on the island and abroad with his usual propagandist declarations.
On the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) issued a statement asserting that “Cuba has embraced the abolition of all modern forms of this global scourge as an unyielding principle” and claimed the government upholds a “zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking, forced labor, and any other form of slave labor.”
The message, which aimed to present the Cuban regime as a paragon of human rights commitment, triggered an immediate and widespread backlash on social media. Numerous users expressed anger, calling Rodríguez's statements “cynical, hypocritical, and offensive” in light of the labor exploitation and social control experienced by the Cuban people.
The Irony Behind the Claims
Cuban doctor Alexander Figueredo, now exiled in the United States, highlighted the irony in a viral response: “What fine irony... Cuba talking about abolishing slavery while perfecting it for 65 years.” Figueredo reminded everyone that the same regime boasting of fighting slavery “exports doctors as commodities, confiscates their passports, takes 80% of their salary, and threatens their families if they leave the missions.”
Other users were equally scathing. “Look who's talking, those who maintain slave medical missions worldwide,” wrote the user @DiazVismar38292. Meanwhile, @Taoro8 demanded that “Cuba should also abolish the slave labor of its medical missions,” referring to the over 26,000 healthcare professionals the regime deploys abroad under contracts deemed by international bodies as a form of “forced labor.”
Disparity Between Reality and Official Rhetoric
The anger also highlighted the stark contrast between the dire poverty affecting Cubans and the official rhetoric of “dignity and social justice.” The user @marcosdruizs denounced that the “Cuban salary is modern slavery, plain and simple.” Others pointed out that the United Nations sets the extreme poverty threshold at $65 per month, while Cuban salaries barely reach $10 or $15.
“Cuba continues to suffer the ravages of slavery, and it’s not colonial—it's Castroist. The people live in utter misery to ensure the luxurious lives of a small group of communist bourgeois,” wrote the user @requin65, echoing a widespread sentiment among netizens.
Political Hypocrisy in the Spotlight
Rodríguez Parrilla’s post coincided with fresh revelations about the luxury travels of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo,” the grandson and former bodyguard of Raúl Castro. An investigation by Panama’s La Prensa disclosed that he had made at least thirteen private flights to Panama since May 2024.
Many Cubans used this coincidence to denounce the hypocrisy of a political elite indulging in extravagance while the populace survives without essential medicines or basic foodstuffs. “They talk of abolishing slavery but keep 11 million slaves in the 21st century,” wrote a user under the alias @lagaviota000. Others likened the regime to a “modern slave ship,” accusing the Communist Party of “renting out” doctors, athletes, and soldiers, while confiscating their wages and benefits.
The minister’s message also reignited international criticism of Cuban medical missions, labeled by both the European Parliament and the U.S. State Department as a form of “human trafficking and forced labor.”
Meanwhile, social media buzzed with irony, memes, and biting remarks. “Cuba experienced slavery... and continues to do so. Only the master has changed,” shared one user. Another summed up the collective sentiment: “Communism in Cuba didn’t abolish slavery; it nationalized it.”
Rather than quelling criticism, Rodríguez Parrilla’s statement underscored the deep disconnect between the regime’s official discourse and the harsh realities faced by millions of Cubans.
In a country where wages are insufficient to buy food, where doctors are treated as state property, and where freedom remains a privilege, the foreign minister’s words seemed less like a commitment to human rights and more like a cruel taunt to the suffering of an entire nation.
Understanding the Cuban Context: Questions and Answers
What is the Cuban government's stance on human trafficking and forced labor?
The Cuban government claims to have a zero-tolerance policy towards human trafficking, forced labor, and any form of slave labor. However, this claim is met with widespread skepticism due to the regime's practices, especially concerning the deployment of medical personnel abroad.
Why is there criticism of Cuba's international medical missions?
Cuba's international medical missions are criticized because they are seen as a form of forced labor. The government takes a significant portion of the salaries earned by these professionals, restricts their freedom of movement by confiscating passports, and applies pressure to prevent them from leaving the missions.
How do Cuban citizens view the government's stance on slavery?
Many Cuban citizens view the government's stance on slavery as hypocritical and disconnected from reality. The regime's rhetoric is often seen as a facade that contrasts sharply with the exploitation and poverty experienced by the people.