A Cuban resident in Uruguay sparked an intense debate on social media after questioning the attitude of certain individuals towards work and responding to those who claim that migrants come to the country to take jobs away from locals.
The protagonist is Lisbel Becquer, who has been living in Uruguay for several years and currently works the night shift at the Agro-Food Unit of Montevideo (UAM), as reported by Montevideo Portal.
Her statements went viral and triggered responses both in support and against.
In the original video posted on TikTok, the Cuban decided to show how one of her early morning days unfolds and took the opportunity to respond to a phrase that, as she mentioned, she has heard more than once: «Why do Cubans take our jobs?».
"If someone from another country, without connections, without contacts, and without knowing anyone, takes your job, it seems to me that the issue is more on your side," he stated.
Lisbel then invited those who question migrants to join her for a night of work, regardless of the conditions.
Come with me to work in the early morning. Rain or shine, let's go, move forward so you can see what this is all about here," he said.
The young woman acknowledged that working during the early morning hours has been one of the toughest experiences she has faced since emigrating, but she stated that during her time at UAM, she has also seen people show very little enthusiasm for keeping their jobs.
I have seen so many people pass by here and show so little enthusiasm, that sometimes I ask myself this question: do you really not have a job or did you not know how to take care of the one you had?," he expressed.
Although he clarified that he did not intend to judge all Uruguayans, his message was direct against those who blame foreigners for their job difficulties.
"Stop blaming the person next to you or someone from elsewhere for the things you do wrong," he pointed out.
The Cuban went even further and advised seeking alternatives when a job does not materialize.
If there is no work, create it. Take initiative, get creative, start thinking, and you'll see that everything changes because deceiving yourself will cost you dearly, he stated.
His words did not go unnoticed. Several Uruguayans rejected the generalization and argued that some companies prefer to hire foreigners because they accept lower wages or less favorable working conditions, a critique that shifted the discussion from willingness to work to the conditions of the labor market.
Other users, however, agreed with Lisbel and felt that her experience reflects a difference in how some migrants value job opportunities after leaving countries with more challenging economic situations.
What began as a Cuban woman's account of her early morning work ultimately confronted two perspectives: that of those who advocate for individual effort to get ahead and that of those who remember that obtaining and keeping a job also depends on the available working conditions.
The controversy over whether Cuban immigrants displace local workers is not new. In June, a Cuban woman who discussed the difficulties of renting a home in Uruguay received a response that told her to return to her country so that foreigners would not "take jobs from Uruguayans."
A similar discussion took place in September 2025, although in Mexico, when another Cuban responded to the accusation that migrants come to take jobs.
"Work is not taken away; it is earned through effort," he stated, advocating for the right of foreigners to seek opportunities to get ahead.
In August of that same year, the work testimony of a Cuban asylum seeker in Uruguay also sparked divided opinions.
While some highlighted their willingness to work, others accused foreigners of accepting low wages and working conditions that, in their view, ultimately harm local workers.
Related videos:
Filed under: