Cuba”s Self-Employment Licenses Almost Double in One Year

Self-employment in CubaHavana, 17 SET. -Self-employment in Cuba is having a favorable impact taking into account that nowadays the Cuban government has doubled the number of licenses granted from about 150,000 last year to 333,000 at present.

The minister of the Cuban Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Margarita Gonzalez, affirmed that in view of the implementation of the Guidelines passed during the Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) they have increased this employment alternative to 181 specialties.

A new Resolution 33, which regulates self-employment opens new possibilities for those choosing to work by themselves or open micro businesses.

Resolution 33 makes the hiring of people in the 181 allowed working modalities feasibly possible.

Gonzalez added the changes are the result of the experience of the implementation of self-employed workers in Cuba.

Another adopted measure is widening or changing status, as for instance, wheelbarrow operators will change their condition to "ambulatory produce street vendor."

In the area of housing rental, the monthly minimum tax for renting rooms was lowered from 200 to 150 pesos, and the owners of "paladares", or private restaurants, may now have up from 20 to 50 seats, 30 more than what was previously permitted, to increase the amount to 1,438 units.

The minister explained that after analyzing thoroughly the experiences and results derived from self-employment, the Council of Ministers approved last May a new Law Decree and several resolutions that came into force last Friday as published in La Gaceta Oficial. (PRENSA LATINA)