A viral video posted on TikTok by the user @anita.cubanita64 has sparked a wave of reactions by highlighting the precarious economic situation in Cuba. In the recording, the young Cuban mother reveals what she was able to purchase with her salary as a teacher, which amounts to only 8 dollars a month since she is on maternity leave and only receives 60% of her salary.
"My basic salary is 4,100 Cuban pesos, which is approximately 12 dollars, but after deductions, I'm left with 11 dollars. Now that I'm on maternity leave, I'm only paid 60% of the salary, which amounts to 8 dollars a month," the young woman explained in the video.
Throughout the recording, the teacher displays the products she was able to buy with her salary, including some sweets, sanitary pads, a laundry soap, plastic cups, potatoes from the store, noodles, garlic, onion, rice, and some small yogurts for her son. Additionally, she stops at a toy store where she notices that the prices of children's toys exceed 1,000 Cuban pesos, making it impossible for a teacher to purchase one for her son without sacrificing her food.
The post generated thousands of comments and reactions, reflecting indignation, surprise, and disbelief regarding the economic situation of Cuban workers. Among the most notable comments, users from other countries compared their realities to that of the Cuban teacher. Some mentioned that 8 dollars can be spent on breakfast, that in Colombia 100% of pay is provided during maternity leave, and that in Venezuela a teacher earns only 2 dollars a month. Other users expressed surprise, pointing out that 12 dollars is equivalent to the cost of a pack of baby diapers, with one person from Guatemala commenting that that amount barely covers a meal.
The case of this teacher adds to other viral complaints about the salary crisis in Cuba. A few days ago, another video on TikTok showed how the salary of a lawyer on the island, 14 dollars a month, barely sufficed to buy some basic products at a market. Additionally, in February, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa admitted that "with a salary of 6,000 pesos, one cannot live", without offering solutions to the severe economic crisis facing the country. As prices continue to rise and the purchasing power of Cubans collapses, social media has become a key platform for highlighting the harsh reality of thousands of families on the island.
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