Cuba's Government Reorganization Law to Take Effect on November 9

The Cuban regime unveiled a new law this Monday, marking the start of a significant reorganization of its state apparatus. This reform, announced months earlier, aims to streamline the central government by reducing the number of central bodies from 27 to 21. It also outlines the redistribution of workers and resources across various ministries.

The "Law 186 on the Organization of the Central State Administration," was published in the Official Gazette No. 90 on November 2 and will be enforced starting November 9. The law provides up to a year to fully implement the administrative changes.

Key Changes Under the New Law

The reorganization includes merging functions previously distributed among different state bodies. Notably, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food will now oversee agriculture, the food industry, sugar, and fisheries.

The newly established Ministry of Economy and Finance will manage economic planning, public finances, budgeting, and tax policy. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment, Habitat, and Hydraulic Resources will handle housing, urban planning, water resources, and environmental concerns.

The reform also creates the Ministries of Higher Education, Science and Innovation; Industries and Construction; and Information and Social Communication. The latter will be responsible for state communication policy, advertising, sponsorship, and certain media organization processes.

Implementation Timeline and Impact on Workers

The legislation mandates that heads of state bodies have up to a year to execute the necessary organizational shifts and transfer human, material, and financial resources to the institutions assuming new responsibilities. However, it does not specify the fate of employees from the units that will be dissolved or merged.

Job security is a significant concern, especially after Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz announced in July the elimination of over 92,000 positions in the Ministries of Public Health, Education, Culture, and the Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation. According to official statements, these were mostly vacant administrative roles, meaning the reorganization might not directly lead to an equivalent number of job losses.

A Long-Awaited Reform

In April, Miguel Díaz-Canel initially announced plans to cut down the state's bureaucratic machinery, remove intermediary structures, and enhance public administration efficiency. By May, the Council of Ministers had approved a draft to reduce the central bodies. The structure of the 20 planned ministries, along with the Central Bank of Cuba, was revealed in June.

The National Assembly eventually passed the legislation on July 30. However, the final version introduced a significant change: the law will become effective seven days after its publication, instead of the 60 days initially proposed in June. Moreover, ministers will have up to 30 days from the law's enactment to submit schedules for implementing the changes.

Controversy Surrounding the State Reorganization

The reform has sparked criticism from both experts and affected institutions. In August, workers and specialists from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) protested the decision to dissolve their organization without adequately consulting its employees. Among the critics, Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service, called the move a "grave mistake" and criticized the lack of worker involvement in decisions directly impacting their institution.

In June, Cuban economist Pedro Monreal also criticized the proposed ministerial structure, particularly the dissolution of the Ministry of Domestic Trade as an independent entity and the allocation of responsibilities related to construction and housing. He further questioned the necessity of a ministry dedicated specifically to information and social communication.

Law 186 repeals provisions governing the Central State Administration since 1983 and establishes a new organizational framework for the Cuban government.