"In Cuba, working yields nothing", claims Cuban creator @sheyreyes032 in a video that has gone viral on TikTok. In a straightforward and candid tone, Sheyla presents a reality known to millions of Cubans: the impossibility of making a living on a state salary.
"The one who says otherwise either doesn't live here or doesn't have to feed a family," he states at the beginning. He explains, "a salary of 3,000 Cuban pesos is not enough even for a week's worth of breakfast." From there, his testimony becomes more raw and personal: "How do people get by? By improvising, by struggling, by whatever comes their way".
For Sheyla, working eight hours for that salary "is a lack of respect." "Earning what it costs for a bag of bread and a carton of eggs... that's not a life," she asserts.
He also criticizes the criminalization of informal work: “Then they criticize you, even want to throw you in jail when you do something on the side, to make a few bucks or whatever it is.” And he poses a question that encapsulates his frustration: “So what am I supposed to do… starve legally?”
He also lamented the reality of professionals in Cuba: “There are so many people here who studied for six years, and with their salary, they can't even buy a bottle of oil. Then they are astonished by the number of people who have left Cuba.”
"You can be a doctor, a teacher, an engineer, whatever... but you won't be able to support yourself or your family because the salary just isn't enough," he continues. "And then they have the nerve to tell you, 'Don't invent, don't sell anything on the side, that's illegal'... so what am I supposed to do?"
For her, there is no turning back: "In this country, one cannot live on a salary. Right now, anyone who doesn't have a relative in the United States or outside of Cuba to help them is lost."
The testimony has generated an avalanche of comments, supportive responses, and similar experiences. "As a graduate in Nuclear Physics, I earned 3,200 pesos. I had five other jobs... and even then, it wasn't enough to cover basic meals," commented @lizzie. "The beach is free, sir; in Cuba, you go with a pot of rice and a bottle of water," she added later, countering the simplified view of leisure on the island.
Another user pointed out, “What’s incredible is that the population hasn’t been cut in half.” And someone else raised a question that captures the confusion of many: “And why don’t they go out to protest?”
In June, Sheyla had shared another video in which she stated, “Don’t even think about working for the Government,” referring to the low salaries and pensions received by state employees.
Official data supports his words. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the average monthly salary in Cuba was 6,506.5 CUP in April 2025, equivalent to just 17 dollars at the informal exchange rate. Professionals such as teachers, doctors, and engineers remain among the lowest paid.
Engineer Yulieta Hernández Díaz published an analysis showing that with the minimum wage (11 CUP per hour), a worker can only buy 15 grams of rice or one third of an egg. In the case of retirees, their pension barely covers four grams of rice or one tenth of an egg. The calculation was shared in a widely shared publication on social media.
"Working in Cuba literally doesn't pay for the food needed to keep working," Hernández concluded.
Meanwhile, millions of Cubans are facing a system where salaries barely suffice for survival, and informal alternatives are penalized. As one user summarized: "The struggle is not a crime; it's survival."
Frequently asked questions about the precarious economic situation in Cuba
Why do salaries in Cuba not meet basic needs?
Wages in Cuba are extremely low compared to the current cost of living on the island. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the average monthly salary barely covers a fraction of basic needs due to inflation and currency devaluation. Professionals such as teachers, doctors, and engineers, who should receive better compensation, are among the worst paid. The lack of products in the state market and high prices in the informal market worsen the situation, leaving many Cubans without access to food and other essential goods.
How do Cuban families survive on such low wages?
Many Cuban families rely on assistance from relatives abroad, remittances, and informal work to survive. The state salary is insufficient to cover basic needs, which leads many to "innovate" or seek alternatives outside the formal system, such as self-employment, even though these activities can be penalized by the government. Moreover, solidarity among neighbors and community support play a crucial role in daily survival.
Why is the Cuban government criticized so much regarding the current economic situation?
The Cuban government is criticized for its inability to provide effective solutions to the economic crisis affecting the country. Despite promises of reforms and improvements, the state wage system remains inadequate and does not allow workers to meet their basic needs. Corruption, bureaucracy, and restrictions on private entrepreneurship exacerbate the situation, leaving many Cubans with no options to improve their quality of life. In this context, criticisms of the government focus on its lack of effective response and the perpetuation of a failing economic model.
What role do remittances play in the economy of Cuban families?
Remittances sent by family members abroad are a crucial source of income for many families in Cuba. Remittances help cover basic needs that government wages cannot meet, such as food, medicine, and other essential goods. However, this has also created an economic and emotional dependency, generating tensions between those who send money and those who receive it. Although remittances provide relief, they do not address the structural issues of the Cuban economy.
What alternatives do Cubans have in the face of the precariousness of the state system?
In the face of the precariousness of the state system, many Cubans are seeking alternatives in the private sector, such as small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes), cafes, and individual businesses, which can offer better income and more flexible working conditions. Informal work and private ventures are options that allow some to improve their economic situation, although they face legal restrictions and a lack of a suitable environment to develop fully. The support from relatives abroad and community solidarity are also crucial in coping with the crisis.
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