Cuba Moving to Reduce Public Sector Jobs

The Eighth Conference of the Transportation and Port Workers Trade Union was held over the weekend in Havana with a focus on the ongoing process to reduce staff numbers at workplaces nationwide.

General Secretary of the Cuban Workers Union of Cuba (CTC) Salvador Valdés spoke at the closing day of the conference. He noted that the Cuban trade union faces the challenge of cutting excessive staff in a frank, rational, transparent and just manner.

Valdés said that the trade union meetings are the best place to explain the urgent need to implement this policy and the series of measures approved by the government. He added that during these meetings, workers should be encouraged to express their opinions and respect dissenting points of view.

The new measures are aimed at overhauling the Cuban economic and labor model shifting excess workers to areas where they are needed and where they can be more productive with a focus on employment that is decent, socially useful and economically sustainable.

Quoting Cuban President Raúl Castro, Valdés said the Revolution will not abandon anyone, but that the State cannot guarantee unlimited salary and job protection. He urged citizens to be proactive in finding socially useful employment.

“We are aware that workers and people, in general, are very concerned about employment reduction and relocation. The enemies of the Revolution have exaggerated and manipulated this issue, distorting information released by the government,” said the CTC General Secretary.

Valdés pointed out that it is essential that the leaders of the workers’ movement and trade unions explain that there is no change in the policy of the Revolution or in the objectives set out in the construction of socialism.

Employment remains an essential component of the social and economic policy of the Cuban state and the principles that rule it continue to be in force. Procedures, salaries, employment and work relations are being modified along with new ways of management.

Across the country, political reflection and analysis is taking place. In workplaces, workers are studying and discussing the speech delivered by Cuban President Raúl Castro on August 1 at the closing ceremony of the ordinary session of the People’s Power National Assembly.

A strong, organized and united trade union and the unity of the Cuban workers and the Cuban people are fundamental to materialize the changes that will keep intact the principles of our Revolution and socialism.

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