Cuba will Issue New Licenses for Self-Employed

Havana, Sep 26. -Cuba will issue in October new licenses to open small private businesses, in order to offer available workers more employment options, after cutting the number of employees in the state sector.

The measure conforms to Government's decision to redesign national economic policies for increased production and efficiency, Granma newspaper has informed.

Last August 1st, President Raul Castro announced the expansion of small private businesses, the elimination of present prohibitions to grant licenses, the marketing of some products, and the decision to make hiring of workers more flexible in some sectors.

The idea will help the State shake off much of the burden of excessive subsidies, while it will leave private persons to provide services that the state had assumed for years despite the difficult economic climate.

Besides, it will make it possible for the offer of goods and services to increase, and will guarantee incomes for those who decide to practice self-employment.

According to Admi Valhuerdi, vice-Minister of Work and Social Security, Cubans will be able to perform self-employment in 178 activities, in 83 of which they will be able to employ persons who are not members of the family.

The Banco Central de Cuba is studying the possibility of granting loans to those small private businesses. (Prensa Latina)