Commentary on the Big Salary Increase Coming for Cubans

Illustration by Carlos

“Did you hear? They are going to raise the salaries. How good!”  “Yes, but this has me a little nervious.”  “And why’s that?”     “Buddy, what’s got me worried is that the salaries are going to be doubled and shortly after the prices of everything will be squared or cubed.”

HAVANA TIMES – As we have previously reported the Cuban government has announced a significant salary increase for State employees, the first one in many years.  It is scheduled to take effect in August. 

What at first glance sould bring joy, faces skepticism among many of those to benefit from the wage hike.

The main reason for disbelief being that when the economy was doing a little better the government said there was no way they could increase salaries until industrial and agricultural production increased, as the country strives to lower imports.

That increase has clearly not occurred so far.  Imports of many basic consumer products have decreased, but from a lack of funds to pay for them, not because of increased national production.

Now with backing from Venezuela greatly reduced and Raul Castro himself recently predicting hard times to come, suddenly the government has found, or is printing, a considerable amount of currency to finance the wage increases.

President Diaz Canel tries to calm concerns by saying that price controls will be strictly enforced so that workers can enjoy their increased buying power.  But many Cubans are skeptical if such price controls will be effective in a market plagued by shortages and a growing demand once more money is circulating. 

 

5 thoughts on “Commentary on the Big Salary Increase Coming for Cubans”

  • 1 Cubans do not call Americans gringo they use Americanos and lately Yuma but never Gringo. 2 this article is about freedom of speech and the lack of freedom with a miserable salary.

  • Independencia del pueblo para manejar la economia solamente la alcanza el pueblo cuando el respeto,la concideracion por cada ciudadanoy la livertad de derechos de opinion sea liberada de trabas y control ipunitivos con reprecion por parte gubenamental sea eliminada.no hay otra viaatomar Solamente el capitalismo y la competencias para poner cada cual su productos en el mercado.Suelten la rienda y dejen vivir al pueblo navegando a la deriva hasta que se alcan ce la economia donde todos pendanj en realid comer,Basta de abuso y martirios para to
    Dos los cubanos.

  • Van a see lo mismo aqui end gringolandia so agmuento hasta $15 all hora.
    Pero LA gente estan muy bruto y no entiuendes eso.

  • What good is a salary increase in CUP, when everything has to be bought in CUC? The Cuban Government refuses to do as the Communists did in China, Vietnam ans Russia, and that is to decentralize their econmony and transform it into Capitalism like those countries did so successfully. It is all about control over all its citizens and keeping them equally economically at the bottom of the totem pole…of course, that does not apply to the Castro family or other high ranking Communist officials – they live like Fidel did in opulence!

  • Keep up the good workings!! An increase in the quality of life is an investment!! Well done amigoes!!

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