Last Tuesday, Jesús Otamendiz, Cuba's Minister of Labor and Social Security, addressed the plenary session of the 114th International Labor Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, pledging that Cuban workers would "never be left unprotected" as the nation faces its most severe energy and economic crisis in years.
Otamendiz led the Cuban delegation to this gathering, which brings together representatives from governments, employers, and workers from the ILO's 187 member states. The conference is set to conclude this Friday in the Swiss city.
The minister condemned what he termed the United States' "economic war" against Cuba, with a particular focus on a fuel embargo that, he claimed, has been obstructing the island's supply for over five months.
However, aside from promises and criticisms of the United States, he did not provide specifics on how Cuban workers are being protected, who, to make matters worse, have been enduring meager wages for decades.
Promises Amidst Energy Crisis
"The sinister plan of the United States is to create a humanitarian crisis. They aim to suffocate the Cuban people to provoke a social uprising," Otamendiz declared to the conference delegates.
He outlined the mechanisms the regime claims to have activated to lessen the impact on workers: reallocation of those unemployed, ensuring 100% salary during the first month of inactivity and 60% from the second month onward.
This policy was formalized through Decree 149/2026, signed in April and published in the Official Gazette on May 28, regulating the salary management of workers deemed "interrupted."
Impact on Cuban Workforce
The energy crisis has had devastating effects on Cuba's workforce. In March, approximately 300,000 workers in the tourism sector were left without income, and power outages have exceeded 15 hours daily in several provinces.
The government has reassigned some of these workers to tasks such as garbage collection and food production, while claiming to have doubled the number of social workers and increased the social assistance budget.
Legislative Changes on the Horizon
Otamendiz also announced that a proposal for a new Labor Code would soon be presented to the National Assembly of People's Power, with approval expected in July following a public consultation process that ran from September to November 2025.
The new code aims to consolidate 12 scattered regulatory provisions and, according to the regime, "expand rights and guarantees across all labor sectors."
Confronting U.S. Threats
In a more confrontational tone, the minister addressed what he described as threats of military aggression from Washington: "Cuba is a nation of peace and does not seek conflict, but if it comes, the Cuban people will know how to defend their sovereignty and independence, to the last consequence."
The regime's rhetoric at the ILO sharply contrasts with the reality on the island, where fuel shortages—worsened by sanctions penalizing countries selling oil to Cuba—have stalled productive activities and partially collapsed the national electrical system.
In May, UN experts accused the United States of endangering human rights in Cuba due to the fuel embargo, an accusation flatly denied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who rejected the existence of such a blockade.
FAQs on Cuba's Economic Crisis and Worker Protection
What steps has Cuba taken to protect workers during the crisis?
The Cuban government has implemented measures such as reassigning unemployed workers, ensuring full salary for the first month of inactivity, and providing 60% of the salary from the second month onwards, as per Decree 149/2026.
How has the energy crisis affected Cuban workers?
The energy crisis has left about 300,000 workers in the tourism sector without income due to prolonged power outages, and has forced the government to reassign workers to other tasks like garbage collection and food production.
What is the proposed new Labor Code in Cuba?
The new Labor Code aims to unify 12 scattered regulatory provisions, expanding rights and guarantees for all labor sectors. Its approval is expected in July, following public consultations.