A photograph published on Facebook by Yoel Cruz brings to light one of the harshest consequences of the Cuban crisis: two children, aged 13 and 11, walk down a humble street selling baguette-style bread to help their mothers.
The image, shared under the hashtag #SOScuba, has sparked outrage on social media and reignited concerns about the rise of child labor on the island.
"Why do two children aged 13 and 11 have to think about how to help their moms?" Cruz questioned in a post titled: "Cuba hurts. The kite-flying bakers".
The scene is not an isolated case. The Observatorio Cubano de Conflictos (OCC) recorded 71 reports of child labor and begging in Cuba during 2025, and the documented cases in 2026 have multiplied across different provinces.
In April of this year, a teenager was reported selling bread for 200 pesos each in a building in Havana. In June, a boy of only 10 years old was going out to sell coquitos to help support his mother and siblings.
In July, another minor explained his situation with a phrase that says it all: "My mom is sick, I do this to help her."
In May, a14-year-old boy was documented searching for work with the same reasoning: "I'm working to help my mom." And in July, an 11-year-old child was picking up cans on the street to contribute something to his family.
Cases have been documented in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, Camagüey, and Sancti Spíritus. The Food Monitor Program raised an alert in June regarding the progress of the phenomenon, citing minors involved in street vending and even driving bike taxis.
Despite the fact that Cuban legislation —the Labor Code and Law 178 of 2025— prohibits the employment of minors under 17 years old and classifies child begging as exploitation, necessity imposes its own logic. In June, the Young Communist League (UJC) went so far as to deny that child labor exists in Cuba, a statement that sparked a wave of outrage on social media.
The economic crisis explains the magnitude of the problem. The Cuban economy has suffered a decline of 15% since 2020, with an additional drop of 5% occurring just in 2025.
In July of this year, meeting a person's basic needs required about 96,060 pesos per month, roughly 14 times the official average salary. A typical pension is around 3,000 pesos, while a carton of 30 eggs costs 3,600.
UNICEF reports that 9% of Cuban children suffer from severe food insecurity, and 33% of children under five experience moderate food insecurity. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) estimates that 89% of Cuban families live in extreme poverty.
Yoel Cruz concluded his post with a bitter reflection: "I only feel that the light at the end of the tunnel is the true utopia receding without making any progress."
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