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A group of Cuban doctors on a mission for the regime in Angola has rebelled against what they describe as the "theft" of their salaries and is preparing a lawsuit against the corporation Antillana Exportadora S.A. (Antex), a company from the military conglomerate Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), following years of failures to honor their contracts.
Professionals assert that the regime denies them the cash delivery of the dollars that Angola pays for their services and that, according to the agreement, these should have been deposited into currency accounts in their names. Instead, they receive part of the money on a "Clásica" card restricted for use within the island, with no possibility of accessing cash, various independent media reported this weekend.
A meeting in Luanda, the capital of Angola, lasting over two hours, ended up being a collective catharsis against the corporation, as reported by 14ymedio.
In the meeting, not a single voice was heard in favor of the measure, and even military doctors denounced the abuse, some invoking the right to peacefully assemble.
The discomfort of doctors is not only economic but also human. After years away from Cuba, with the emotional toll of losing the birth of children, the death of family members, or facing diseases like malaria in remote areas, many feel that their sacrifice has been in vain.
“Violated, robbed, disappointed, that's how I feel”, confessed a doctor from Havana who has been in Angola for over four years. Another specialist questioned, “I didn't come to this country to buy tomato puree or toilet paper, I came to improve my family's economy”.
GAESA, sanctioned by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), through Antex received between 2013 and 2017 over 1 billion dollars from Angola, according to data cited by the independent outlet El Toque.
However, doctors are reporting that their savings end up being locked in accounts with no real value, while in the Cuban internal market, businesses that only accept physical dollars are proliferating.
The doctors sent a letter to Miguel Díaz-Canel on July 14, mentioned CubaNet, denouncing the breach of contract and demanding payment in cash in dollars. Due to the lack of response, they are now preparing to take an unprecedented step by suing Antex for default.
"We don't want virtual money, we only accept our dollars", summarized a doctor from Santiago de Cuba in statements to 14ymedio.
The lawyer Laritza Diversent, director of Cubalex, stated in a dialogue with journalist Mario J. Pentón a few days ago that the case fits the definition of modern slavery by the International Labor Organization. She also reaffirmed to CubaNet that “they do not share their salary voluntarily; they do it because they are in a condition of poverty. It's a form of exploitation.”
With only 200 dollars delivered in kwanzas (official Angolan currency) to cover basic needs in Angola and the rest held back in Cuba, the doctors feel that their life projects are being destroyed.
“Those are plans of entire families that you are destroying,” warned a specialist at the meeting in Luanda. The shared sentiment among the doctors is that the regime is not only breaking its contract but also betraying the personal sacrifices they make in the name of so-called “medical cooperation.”
With the demand on the table, the doctors seek not only to reclaim their dollars but also to bring to light a reality that many have lived in silence until now.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Reporting of Cuban Doctors in Angola and GAESA
Why are Cuban doctors in Angola denouncing GAESA?
Cuban doctors in Angola are reporting GAESA, claiming that the Antillana Exportadora S.A. (Antex) corporation, part of GAESA, is not paying them their salaries properly. They accuse GAESA of holding their salaries in accounts in Cuba instead of providing them with the cash that Angola pays for their services. This situation has led the doctors to prepare a lawsuit against Antex for breach of contract.
What measures are Cuban doctors taking in response to this situation?
Cuban doctors in Angola are preparing a lawsuit against Antex for the failure to pay their salaries. They have sent a letter to Miguel Díaz-Canel, reporting the situation and demanding payment in cash in US dollars, but due to the lack of response, they have decided to proceed with legal actions to recover their earnings.
What impact does this situation have on the personal and professional lives of Cuban doctors in Angola?
The situation has a significant impact on the personal and professional lives of Cuban doctors in Angola. In addition to the economic stress from not receiving their full salaries, they face substantial emotional costs, such as being away from their families, missing important events like births or funerals, and dealing with illnesses in remote areas. Many feel that their sacrifices have not been properly acknowledged or rewarded.
How is the complaint of Cuban doctors in Angola related to the broader context of Cuban medical missions abroad?
This complaint is part of a broader pattern of exploitation and control that the Cuban regime exerts over its healthcare professionals on international missions. Leaked documents have revealed practices of wage retention, confiscation of documents, and surveillance of doctors' private lives. These conditions have been classified as labor exploitation by experts and are part of a scheme that uses medical missions as a tool for political and economic influence.
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