Another Cuban child was captured while proclaiming the sale of avocados on a street in the city of Santiago de Cuba.
The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who did not provide details about the minor, brought this case to light that once again moves the people of Santiago.
"This country is unrecognizable... how many children are starving and working?... Until when will this be?" commented a user on the video posted on the communicator's Facebook profile.
With a different tone, another internet user expressed their opinion, saying: “It hurts to see that, but at least he is fighting for his little money, without harming anyone.”
"Although it hurts, a lot, it is already normal; they sell bread, avocado, whatever it is. They, besides food, would like to eat their sweets that they crave so much like children, and they can't," added another user.
The truth is that this is the second case of a child selling avocados reported from Santiago de Cuba. Although these have gained visibility, other cases may be known in this city or in other parts of Cuba.
In Camagüey, another child, just 10 years old, rode through the streets every afternoon on an old bicycle that was bigger than him, selling tamales to make a living and help his grandmother. Thanks to the generosity of several Cubans, the boy received assistance and committed to not going out to sell anymore.
Months earlier, another child was seen selling second-hand items to survive on the same sidewalk in Havana where the dictator Fidel Castro proclaimed the "socialist character of the revolution."
These events and others have forced the official press to acknowledge the existence of child labor cases in the country, a problem that reflects the complexity of the current socioeconomic context.
In Cuba, the law prohibits child labor and protects the rights of minors, according to the Constitution and the Labor Code. However, educational institutions in Santiago de Cuba, such as IPU-Cuqui Bosch and Secundaria Básica Espino Fernández, have identified cases of child labor in their communities.
Experts emphasize the importance of a coordinated approach between family, school, and community to prevent the negative consequences of child labor on the development of minors.
Children should play, learn, and develop in a safe environment, away from work responsibilities, but the inflation and poverty in Cuba are such that many have to work to contribute to the family economy, because the government does not guarantee the social assistance that vulnerable populations need.
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