The president of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, conveyed a clear message this Tuesday to Cubans interested in working in that country: they must enter through legal channels and will be subject to the same labor regulations as Guyanese workers.
Ali made the statements during a press conference in Georgetown when asked about relations with Cuba and the changes in the mechanisms through which Cuban professionals, particularly in the health sector, can work in Guyana.
"Cubans who wish to work here must go through legal channels and are hired under the same working conditions and laws that apply to our local workers," he stated, according to a report from News Room Guyana.
According to the outlet, "Ali's latest statements extend that principle beyond the immediate debate on healthcare" and reach out to Cubans interested in legally working in other sectors of the Guyanese economy.
His statements come after a significant change in the historic medical cooperation between the two countries. At the beginning of 2026, Cuba withdrew its medical brigade from Guyana, bringing an end to the government scheme under which professionals from the island provided services for decades.
The Guyanese Minister of Health, Frank Anthony, assured that it was Havana that decided to withdraw the personnel. Following this change, Cuban professionals who wish to stay or return can be hired directly and receive their salaries according to the laws of Guyana, rather than through agreements managed by the Cuban government.
The former mechanism of Cuban medical missions has faced intense international criticism due to the percentage of salaries withheld by Havana and the restrictions imposed on professionals.
Guyana and Cuba had renewed their health cooperation in 2023. That year, Georgetown announced the hiring of 200 Cuban nurses for 2024, as the country sought to expand its healthcare capacity.
Despite the end of the previous medical cooperation scheme, Ali assured that Guyana keeps the door open to continue working with Cuba in various areas and reiterated the importance of bilateral relations.
Guyana is increasingly attracting more Cubans
The message from Ali is particularly significant due to the growing interest of Cubans in Guyana, an economy that has been transformed in recent years by the exploitation of its vast oil reserves.
The Guyanese government is projecting an economic growth of 16.2% in 2026, as sectors such as construction, engineering, hospitality, and services increasingly demand more workers.
Guyana has also become an important migration destination for citizens from the island. Data cited by Bloomberg indicates that 135,000 Cubans obtained legal status in Guyana in 2025, compared to just over 800 in 2020, reflecting the significant growth of Cuban migration to that country.
However, job opportunities coexist with stories of precariousness. Cubans residing in Guyana have reported long working hours, informal jobs, difficulties in finding housing, and situations of violence.
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