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A job advertisement, shared by the internet user Kiryat Poey, was originally posted in the Facebook group "Barato Cárdenas." It went viral on Cuban social media and sparked a wave of outrage for offering only two Cuban pesos for each candy sold in a 12-hour workday.
The notice, posted by user Sheila Sanchez in Cárdenas, Matanzas province, is looking for an experienced salesperson to manage a street candy stand located on a sidewalk, featuring a white display case and a blue tent.
The conditions described in the advertisement left no room for doubt: "PAY 2CUP PER SWEET SOLD", with hours from 9AM to 9PM, although the text clarifies that "it usually ends earlier but that is the schedule."
In addition to piece-rate pay and the long workday, the announcement warns that the worker must perform without adequate protection from the sun, as the tent is broken.
"My tent broke, so I don't have anything for the sun at the moment," the text states, adding that there is only a clear tarp for the rain.
The employer also demands a good appearance, hygiene, and that the worker maintains the cleanliness of the furniture and the work area, all in exchange for two pesos per unit sold.
The offer was shared and commented on by several internet users who criticized both the pay and the working conditions, with reactions labeling the conditions as abusive and unfeasible.
Due to the avalanche of comments, the author of the unique job offer has removed the post.
Indignation is based on the numbers: the minimum wage in Cuba is 2,100 CUP per month, equivalent to about 16 dollars, while the basic food basket exceeds 100 dollars per month and the estimated total cost of living exceeds 50,000 CUP per person.
Under the proposed scheme, a worker would have to sell more than 1,000 sweets per month just to reach the minimum wage, a figure that is economically unfeasible as a source of livelihood.
The average state salary reported by the National Office of Statistics and Information is around 6,500 CUP per month, a figure that is also insufficient given the rampant inflation facing the island.
The economic desperation driving many Cubans to accept any available work conditions is the backdrop for an offer that, in any other context, would hardly find candidates.
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