Related videos:
A Cuban resident in Esmeralda, Camagüey, reported the measure imposed by the banks on workers when they go to collect their salaries.
"The Cuban lives from stress to stress," stated Geldy Yoney López Pérez, a broadcaster, program director, writer, and sound technician at CMHE Radio Esmeralda.
According to what he explained on his Facebook wall, after a month of work, the people of Esmeraldas now have to receive their salaries "little by little" due to the lack of cash at the bank branches.
"On the contrary, it’s never enough; it becomes cumbersome to manage the payment. A thousand pesos a day. And raise your arms to the sky and say: Thank you, Lord," she questioned.
The difficulties of accessing cash are a daily scene throughout the country. It is common to see people lining up from early morning to withdraw their pensions or salaries, a struggle that repeats itself month after month.
This week, the situation faced by the staff of the Provincial Hospital of Santiago de Cuba came to light, where on December 12, the government had still not paid the salaries due for November.
The delay has made it difficult for workers to purchase food for the celebrations on December 31, in a context where, as the final day of the year approaches, products become increasingly expensive.
A doctor from the center reported the case to the CiberCuba newsroom, stating that, in addition to salaries barely being sufficient to cover basic monthly needs, their rights have been severely violated.
"We spent the month watching patients die due to a lack of medications and supplies. Every day it becomes more difficult to make diagnoses because of the shortage of reagents. The food we receive is terrible, there are no suitable conditions for doing our shifts, and now, to make matters worse, our salary is delayed," he said.
Meanwhile, the shortage of cash in the municipality of Jovellanos, Matanzas, has forced workers to wait for hours in line after long workdays just to access a portion of their salary.
As if that weren't enough, the bank only processes payments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, forcing many people to miss work in order to receive their funds.
Testimonies indicate that out of the 4,000 pesos a worker could potentially receive, only 2,000 are allowed to be withdrawn. What further aggravates the situation is that the money is provided in low-denomination bills, such as 5, 10, or 20 pesos.
This creates significant discomfort, as many small and medium-sized enterprises do not accept those bills for their transactions, forcing customers to seek alternatives that are hard to find.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cash and Salary Crisis in Cuba
Why can't Cuban workers receive their full salaries?
The liquidity crisis in Cuba has resulted in workers being able to withdraw their salaries "little by little." Banks allow only a fraction of the salary to be withdrawn due to a lack of cash, forcing people to stand in long lines and impacting their work and personal lives.
How does the lack of cash in Cuban banks affect citizens?
The lack of cash leads to long lines at banks and ATMs, restricting access to the funds needed to cover basic necessities. This impacts both workers and retirees, who have to wait for hours to withdraw small amounts of money, complicating their daily lives.
What measures has the Cuban government implemented to address the cash crisis?
The government has promoted mandatory banking and has suggested the use of the "Caja Extra" service in state stores for cash withdrawals. However, these measures have not solved the cash shortage, as many entities are not prepared to offer this service, and the crisis continues.
What is the situation of retired Cubans in the face of the cash crisis?
Retirees are facing serious difficulties in collecting their pensions due to the cash shortage in banks. Many have to wait in line from early morning and often are unable to withdraw enough money to meet their basic needs, further worsening their economic and social situation.
Filed under: