The Cuban regime announced this Monday its intention to "perfect" social policy and conduct a comprehensive study to review the salary policies of the state sector, in an attempt to address the deep social crisis the country is experiencing.
The measures, presented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, include the establishment of new structures to manage support for vulnerable sectors and proposed incentives to retain workers in the public sector.
However, the current context, characterized by precariousness, rising poverty, and institutional deterioration, raises serious doubts about the viability and real impact of these initiatives.
New commissions and promises of reorganization
The official proposal includes the creation of Committees for social policy attention at the national, provincial, and municipal levels, aimed at coordinating the implementation of social measures in an "integrated" manner.
According to the government discourse, the aim is to "ensure the protection of individuals, families, households, and communities in vulnerable situations," improve the implementation of programs, and "strengthen order, discipline, and citizen tranquility."
Meanwhile, the redistribution of the salary fund among budgeted units was announced to "incentivize the retention of workers in the budgeted sector."
This, however, is done without increasing the available funds, but by redistributing those that were not used in other departments, which has generated criticism for its temporary and limited nature.
Institutional elimination and delegation to "new actors"
The announcement comes after the dissolution in 2024 of the National Social Security Institute, a key entity in the design and implementation of social policies on the island. This decision left a significant gap in institutional management, which has not been effectively filled to this day.
This is complemented by the government's new approach to involve “new actors,” including private and cooperative actors, in the execution of social programs.
Although it appears to be an attempt to revitalize the sector, this measure raises questions about the role of the State as a guarantor of social rights, and opens the door to a model where assistance to the most vulnerable may depend on profit-driven initiatives or those with limited reach.
Draft of the new Labor Code and adverse work environment
The regime has also reported that it is working on a new Labor Code, which could redefine labor relations in the country.
However, so far, no details have been provided regarding the content of this document, nor have participatory mechanisms been established to involve independent unions or workers in its development.
The expectation of legal changes occurs amid a work environment characterized by discontent and emigration, where an increasing number of Cubans are choosing to leave the public sector due to low wages, heavy workloads, and a lack of real incentives.
State salaries and loss of purchasing power
One of the more sensitive aspects of the official announcement concerns the salaries in the state sector, where the government itself acknowledged the existence of "distortions" that require a thorough review.
The promise of a comprehensive study to update salary policies comes late and in a context where the purchasing power of state workers is at an all-time low.
Examples like that of the doctors –with salaries that don’t even cover the most basic products in the informal market or in foreign currency– are a clear indication of the economic collapse of the budgeted sector.
The situation is replicated in education, public administration, culture, and other strategic areas of the country, where thousands of professionals barely survive, with no possibility of progress or savings.
Although in March a new official exchange rate was set that directly impacts salaries and their relation to currencies, this change has yet to result in real improvements for workers.
Demographic crisis and pressure on social security
Cuba is facing one of the most severe demographic crises on the continent, with an increasingly aging population and a low birth rate. Older adults are the only growing demographic group, which increases the pressure on a weakened social security system that lacks sufficient funds.
In this context, thousands of retirees are living with pensions that are insufficient to meet their basic needs, and at times, they are forced to return to work to survive.
Structural vulnerability and social disempowerment
In recent years, the deterioration of living conditions for vulnerable sectors in Cuba has become increasingly evident, characterized by a lack of access to basic services, extreme material deprivation, and a disturbing absence of effective social protection mechanisms.
Cases of homelessness, abandonment, and unmet needs by the State have become frequent across the country, reflecting a structural crisis that particularly affects people with disabilities, the elderly, and families in extreme poverty.
Despite numerous official promises, the data and testimonies reveal a picture of systemic neglect and an institutional inability to address the most pressing needs of the population.
Conclusion: repeated promises in a country in crisis
The announcement from the regime to "perfect" social policies and review state salaries comes in the context of a deep economic, institutional, and moral crisis. The reforms proposed so far lack depth and do not offer structural solutions.
Without a comprehensive redesign of the economic model and real political will, the most vulnerable sectors will continue to bear the burden of a system that does not guarantee them rights or opportunities.
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