Yorisel Andino, the director of the Dolores Concert Hall in Santiago de Cuba, took to Facebook on Thursday to reveal that employees of this renowned institution have gone unpaid for more than two months. The missing salaries pertain to May and June of 2026.
"It's been over two months since the workers of the Dolores Concert Hall have received our due compensation for May (which should have been paid in June) and June (which should have been paid in July)," Andino posted on her personal profile.
The director labeled the situation as "deeply troubling and distressing," particularly for those who rely on these modest earnings to support themselves and their families.
Andino explained that the issue is rooted in structural problems: following the split of the Music Company and the revival of the Music Center, the Dolores Hall fell under the latter's subsidized institutions, with economic dependence on UPAC.
"The appropriate salary processing has fallen into limbo," she pointed out, highlighting a clear instance of bureaucratic negligence and governmental apathy.
Week after week, workers were met with unfulfilled promises: "payments will be made in cash this month," or "both months will be deposited on cards."
According to her report, the latest excuse, given on Wednesday, was that "the Bank returned the payments for the Hall, and they need to be processed again."
Andino sharply criticized this cycle of excuses: "In this endless back and forth, how are the affected workers supposed to manage their daily urgencies?"
She emphasized that her leadership position does not shield her from the same hardships faced by her colleagues: "Yes, I am a director, but first and foremost, I am a worker, an ordinary woman waiting for her modest salary. I am also a colleague who empathizes with those who have stood by me for years at Dolores, all with minimal salaries, and we all deserve respect."
Andino also noted that employees from the Music Center and other musical units recently faced similar situations. The new director of the Center, whom she did not name, has been attentive to the issue despite health challenges, but has been unable to secure a satisfactory response from the relevant authorities.
She concluded her post with a question that remains unanswered by institutions: "Until when?"
This complaint is part of a broader pattern of unpaid wages in Cuba. Less than 10 days ago, teachers in Camagüey reported two months without pay, with the official explanation being "there is no money."
Earlier this month, authorities in Guantánamo warned that a cash shortage in banks threatened the payment of salaries and pensions.
Furthermore, in June, a state sugar company shut down after accumulating four months of unpaid wages.
FAQs About Salary Delays in Cuba
Why are workers at the Dolores Concert Hall unpaid?
The workers have not been paid due to structural issues following the reorganization of the Music Company and the Music Center, leading to economic dependency on UPAC and bureaucratic failures.
Is this salary delay issue common in Cuba?
Yes, salary delays are part of a broader pattern in Cuba, with similar incidents reported in other sectors such as education and sugar production.
What measures are being taken to resolve the payment issues at Dolores Concert Hall?
According to the director, despite attention from the new director of the Music Center, there have been no satisfactory resolutions from the authorities to address the payment delays.