An employment advertisement, initially shared by social media user Kiryat Poey and originally posted on the Facebook group "Barato Cárdenas," has become a viral sensation across Cuban social networks. The ad sparked widespread outrage as it offered only two Cuban pesos for each candy sold during a grueling 12-hour workday.
Posted by Sheila Sanchez in Cárdenas, Matanzas, the job listing sought an experienced vendor to manage a street-side candy stall, characterized by a white showcase and a blue tent.
The job description left no room for ambiguity: "PAY 2CUP PER CANDY SOLD," with working hours set from 9 AM to 9 PM. However, the ad mentioned that the shift "usually ends earlier but that's the schedule."
In addition to the piece-rate pay and extended hours, the ad warned that the worker would have to endure the sun without adequate protection, as the tent was damaged.
"The tent is torn, so I don't have anything for sun protection right now," the ad stated, adding that there was only a transparent tarp to shield against rain.
The employer also demanded good presentation, hygiene, and that the worker maintain the cleanliness of the furniture and work area—all for just two pesos per item sold.
This job offer was shared and critiqued by numerous internet users who condemned both the pay and working conditions, labeling them as exploitative and unfeasible.
Faced with a deluge of comments, the author of this contentious job offer removed the post.
The outrage is substantiated by the numbers: the minimum wage in Cuba stands at 2,100 CUP per month, approximately 16 dollars, while the basic food basket costs over 100 dollars monthly, and the overall cost of living is estimated to surpass 50,000 CUP per person.
Under the proposed arrangement, a worker would need to sell over 1,000 candies each month just to reach the minimum wage, an economically unsustainable target.
The average state salary reported by the National Office of Statistics and Information is around 6,500 CUP monthly, a figure still inadequate in the face of the rampant inflation affecting the island.
The economic desperation driving many Cubans to accept any available job is the backdrop for an offer that, in any other context, would struggle to find applicants.
Understanding Employment Challenges in Cuba
Why did the job offer in Matanzas spark outrage?
The job offer in Matanzas sparked outrage due to its meager pay of 2 CUP per candy sold, alongside a 12-hour workday with poor working conditions, such as lack of sun protection.
What are the economic challenges faced by Cuban workers?
Cuban workers face economic challenges such as low wages, high cost of living, and inflation, making it difficult to sustain themselves on the salaries offered.
How does the proposed pay compare to the minimum wage in Cuba?
The proposed pay of 2 CUP per candy sold is far below the minimum wage in Cuba, which is 2,100 CUP per month, requiring workers to sell over 1,000 candies to meet this minimum.