Jorge L. Veranes Vera, a custodian with 14 years of experience at the H-2 cafeteria in the José Martí District of Santiago de Cuba, reported a situation that he qualifies as a direct violation of labor rights: since November 2024, he has not received any salary.
The cafeteria, under the Municipal Gastronomy Company and operating as part of the Family Care System (SAF), has maintained its operations and product sales; however, the revenue does not translate into payment for those who maintain the service.
“Since November 2024, we haven't been paid, and when we ask, they tell us that the company is in debt and cannot pay our salaries. In the cafeteria, rum, cigarettes, snacks, soft drinks, beer, tobacco, fried foods, and other pre-packaged products have been sold; however, there is never money to pay us,” states the letter from Veranes published this Tuesday in the digital edition of the official newspaper Trabajadores.
According to his testimony, “the permanent answer is THERE IS DEBT, but it seems that the company is paying it with our salary. A few days before May Day, they told us they would advance one month's salary and that the company would soon pay the other 4 months, but it was all a lie.”
According to the affected worker, “the company does not care what money we use to pay our debts. We continue working to ensure the service to the public, especially in this unit, which is vital for those considered vulnerable.”
Also, Veranes lamented that “no one gives us a coherent response and the right to a salary for our work is being violated.”
This situation not only represents a serious administrative violation; it is also a direct infringement of the constitutional right to a salary. Article 31 of the Cuban Constitution states that work is a fundamental value and a social right and duty for those who are able to do it, and it should be the primary source of income that guarantees a dignified life and material and spiritual well-being.
Meanwhile, Article 65 ensures that everyone has the right to receive fair compensation based on the quality and quantity of their work, following the socialist principle "from each according to their ability, to each according to their work."
That a state employee has to write to the official press to demand the most basic thing—payment for their work—highlights the level of institutional neglect.
In a context of inflation, shortages, and repeated government promises of "leaving no one behind," cases like this demonstrate the exact opposite: a bureaucratic structure more inclined to overpower workers than to protect them.
A woman residing in Esmeralda, Camagüey, reported in December 2024 the measure imposed by banks on workers when they go to collect their salaries, to do so "little by little" due to a lack of cash.
Meanwhile, workers in the tobacco sector continue to receive low wages that do not exceed 30 dollars per month at the current exchange rate, even though the government sold 200 million cigars last year and reported earnings of 38 million dollars. This case accurately illustrates the Marxist concept of surplus value: the value that workers generate in production but do not receive as wages.
The Cuban regime also violates the right to work when, for example, it takes the majority of the money paid by the Bahamas for each health professional sent as part of the bilateral medical cooperation.
Several former collaborators from the medical brigades recently confirmed that, despite the Bahamian government's public commitment to pay Cuban doctors directly contracted in its territory, salary confiscation mechanisms implemented by the regime in Havana continue to persist.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed its concern regarding the precariousness of work and the lack of labor rights in Cuba, amid the severe socioeconomic crisis. Referring to the socioeconomic situation on the island, it mentioned hyperinflation, "leading to a consequent loss of purchasing power for workers, frequent power outages, shortages of basic food and medicine, and a collapse of the public health system."
Among other violations of labor rights, according to collected testimonies, there are long working hours without overtime pay; low wages that do not meet basic living needs; and the presence of precarious working conditions (lack of means and tools for work or the existence of unsanitary conditions).
The regime has announced that it is working on a new Labor Code, which could redefine labor relations in the country. However, no details have been provided about the content of this document so far, nor have any participatory mechanisms been established to involve independent unions or workers in its development.
The expectation of legal changes occurs in the midst of a work environment characterized by discontent and emigration, where an increasing number of Cubans are choosing to leave the public sector due to low salaries, excessive workload, and the lack of real incentives.
Frequently asked questions about the salary and labor crisis in Santiago de Cuba
Why haven't the workers at the H-2 cafeteria in Santiago de Cuba received their wages?
The workers of the H-2 cafeteria have not received their salaries since November 2024 due to the company being in debt, and it seems to be using the revenue to pay off these debts instead of compensating the employees. This situation has been described as a direct violation of the labor and constitutional rights of Cuban workers.
How does the lack of payment affect workers in Santiago de Cuba?
The lack of payment severely impacts workers' ability to meet their basic needs, pay their debts, and maintain a decent standard of living. This situation is exacerbated in a context of inflation and widespread shortages of basic goods in Cuba.
What labor rights are being violated in Cuba according to the Constitution?
The violated labor rights include the right to receive a fair wage, which should be the primary source of income to ensure a dignified life. According to the Cuban Constitution, work is a right and social duty, and everyone has the right to be compensated based on the quality and quantity of their work.
What measures has the Cuban government taken in response to allegations of labor violations?
The Cuban government has announced that it is working on a new Labor Code, although it has not provided details about its content nor has it involved independent unions in its development. The lack of an effective response to these complaints reflects an institutional neglect towards workers.
What is the general situation of labor in Cuba according to the IACHR?
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed its concern about the precarious nature of work in Cuba, mentioning hyperinflation, the loss of purchasing power, power outages, and shortages of food and medicine. The lack of labor rights and the extensive work hours without adequate compensation are among the labor violations highlighted.
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