The helmet, the scaffolding, and the iron do not always guarantee peace of mind. A Cuban construction worker in A Coruña states this plainly, noting that his salary arrives on the first day of the month and practically disappears that same day. The phrase, raw and direct, has resonated with thousands of migrants who recognize a shared reality in his story.
The testimony was gathered by the YouTube channel Los Chuchis, which focuses on showcasing how much one earns in Spain and how salaries are stretched in everyday life. Based on that video, Huffington Post, in its Work section, reconstructed the experience of this construction worker who, despite the daily physical effort, barely manages to make ends meet.
"I earn a salary of 1,200 here, and sometimes I get close to 1,300 euros; my paycheck arrives on the first of the month, and that day, it rests in peace," recounts the Cuban on the scaffold. It's not an exaggerated metaphor. The next day, automatic charges begin: phone bills, subscriptions, expenses. Within hours, the salary vanishes.
He lives alone and pays 610 euros in rent. On top of that, electricity bills are around 100 euros and water is billed every three months. The math is simple and devastating. More than half of his salary goes just to keeping a roof over his head and the lights on. “That money goes through the card, makes a stop, and keeps moving,” he sarcastically sums up.
The remaining margin is further reduced by a decision made in the hope of progressing. He bought a van to try working independently delivering packages, a project that did not succeed. However, the debt remains.
Every month, he has to pay 260 euros for a vehicle that is currently sitting idle. When he finishes subtracting expenses, he barely has a little over 200 left to survive for the rest of the month.
Far from selling an idealized idea of migration, the bricklayer is clear: "Here, the money doesn't go far; it's only enough to pay for your place and live decently." He acknowledges that there are opportunities in Spain, but insists that with just one salary, the reality is uphill. Two incomes at home can ease the burden; one alone cannot.
Even so, there is something that makes it all worthwhile for him: having a stable job and a place to sleep. “Just having enough money to pay for the rent is already a wonderful thing for me,” he says. Being able to rest after a hard day's work, keeping the family together, and not living with the constant fear of losing everything has become his greatest achievement.
The video also features other colleagues on the job. Some earn more, around 2,000 euros after agreements with the boss, but even they admit that the salary comes and goes just as quickly. The difference, they repeat, lies in sharing expenses as a couple. "With just one salary these days, no," one of them acknowledges.
In the comments of the video, the story resonated immediately. Migrants who passed through Spain and ended up moving to the United States, workers who claim that even with 2,000 euros, it's not enough, and others who warn that without a partner, subscriptions and little luxuries also vanish.
From Cuba, some compare and conclude that, nonetheless, it is "a thousand times better" than the precarious situation on the island. Others simply appreciate the honesty. "It's great that you speak clearly and with the truth," wrote a user.
Construction continues to be one of the sectors that absorbs the most migrant labor in Spain, partly due to the lack of generational succession. However, behind the employment lies a monthly struggle for survival.
The Cuban mason sums it up without drama or slogans: you work, you get paid, you move forward. The salary goes away, yes, but as long as there is a roof over your head and the family stays united, he says, you can still live comfortably.
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