Tourism Stalls: Matanzas Workers to Be Reassigned to "Priority Areas"

In Matanzas, employees within the tourism sector are being reassigned to other sectors and positions closer to their homes. This move stems from the energy crisis that has led to hotel closures and transportation difficulties from distant municipalities to the Hicacos Peninsula or the provincial capital, as reported by Periódico Girón on social media.

The strategy involves identifying vacant positions through municipal Labor Departments, which are then offered to the available workforce. The immediate cause of these reallocations lies in the hotel shutdowns and the challenges of commuting from remote areas due to the current energy constraints.

As a result, tourism workers are being repositioned within their communities to minimize travel and maintain employment. Cándido Lázaro González Valera, the province's Director of Labor and Social Security, stated that this process involves assessing available jobs in each municipality and proposing these opportunities to workers unable to continue their usual roles in tourism due to the restrictions.

During this evaluation, González Valera noted that some positions, previously considered viable, are no longer feasible options, prompting a shift towards other sectors.

Employment Opportunities Amid Energy Constraints

The province currently has 8,175 unfilled positions across all municipalities, with 8,459 workers engaged in remote work arrangements: 1,765 from home, 6,400 in the field, and 240 in telework. The emphasis is on expanding job models that prioritize task completion over formal work hours, aiming to reduce office occupancy and transportation needs as a direct consequence of the energy measures.

Focusing on Education, Agriculture, and Social Work

According to the provincial director, the reassignment prioritizes education, agriculture, and social work. The decentralization of educational centers has created a demand for teachers, while agriculture's critical role in food production is being emphasized. Additionally, strengthening social work activities is deemed essential, especially for supporting vulnerable populations, similar to efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This labor reorganization addresses the energy limitations by closing hotels and restricting mobility, thereby redistributing the workforce and minimizing travel through reassignments and telecommuting, leveraging existing vacancies in municipalities.

The Broader Impact of Cuba's Energy Crisis on Tourism

The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba has severely impacted tourism, triggering a series of setbacks ranging from hotel closures to the suspension of international flights. In early February, several airports, including Jardines del Rey in Cayo Coco and José Martí in Havana, faced a shortage of Jet A-1 fuel, crucial for airline operations. This shortage forced airlines like Air Canada and Air Transat to cancel or reschedule flights, affecting visitor arrivals and necessitating the relocation of guests among major tourism hubs.

Consequently, hotels began consolidating guests into facilities with greater capacity to "conserve energy," while Cuban employees found themselves jobless or uncertain as operations dwindled. Workers lamented not only the loss of employment but also their daily income, heavily reliant on tips and a steady stream of tourists.

The situation worsened as numerous flights were abruptly canceled, compelling thousands of tourists to expedite their departure. Foreign visitors described the atmosphere in hotels as an "evacuation," characterized by traveler anxiety and the despair of local staff, aware that temporary closures might become prolonged.

These scenes of uncertainty and dismay underscored the profound impact of the energy crisis on Cuban tourism and, crucially, on the families dependent on this sector for their livelihood.