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Cuba to cut 500,000 gov't workers, reform salaries

RightinNYC

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Cuba announced Monday it will cast off at least half a million state workers by early next year and reduce restrictions on private enterprise to help them find new jobs — the most dramatic step yet in President Raul Castro's push to radically remake employment on the communist-run island.


Castro suggested during a nationally televised address on Easter Sunday that as many as 1 million Cuban workers — about one in five — may be redundant.
But the government had not previously laid out specific plans to slash its work force, and the speed and scope of the coming cutbacks were astounding. Cuba's official work force is 5.1 million — meaning nearly 10 percent of all employees could soon be out of a government job.

...

Eventually the state will only employ people in "indispensable" areas such as farming, construction, industry, law enforcement and education.

The Associated Press: Cuba to cut 500,000 gov't workers, reform salaries

Huge news out of Cuba that will have an incredible impact on the future of that country. It will certainly create short-term difficulties for the 10-20% of the population that will lose their jobs, but if this leads to increased economic freedom, it should help the country as a whole in the long term.
 
This is in connection with the massive cooperative movement that the Cuban state is attempting to nurture. Basically what this means is that workers who were once considered employed by the state would now be employed by these worker-owned cooperatives which would be heavily regulated by the state. So in essence this isn't really a reduction in state employees as much as it is a transfer of employees from the strictly "state" sector to the "cooperative" sector.

In other words, "private enterprise" here does not mean what it traditionally means, nor does it mean that the unemployment rate would necessarily increase.
 
This is in connection with the massive cooperative movement that the Cuban state is attempting to nurture. Basically what this means is that workers who were once considered employed by the state would now be employed by these worker-owned cooperatives which would be heavily regulated by the state. So in essence this isn't really a reduction in state employees as much as it is a transfer of employees from the strictly "state" sector to the "cooperative" sector.

In other words, "private enterprise" here does not mean what it traditionally means, nor does it mean that the unemployment rate would necessarily increase.

According to the articles I've seen, it's certainly possible that some people could move to these cooperatives but it's by no means a guaranteed thing. It doesn't appear that they're in place yet, nor does it appear that the state or the workers involved have any idea of exactly what they'd be doing.
 
Perhaps. I haven't really been following this and have really just been skimming these articles. I really don't see the Cuban state simply letting these workers go unemployed, given their record (after all, they've been employing these redundant workers for decades). My guess is that they're trying to trim the fat of the costs for employing these redundant workers while at the same time trying to shift towards the cooperatives to cut state costs and provide for more autonomous organization on a local level which would be more flexible in dealing with supply/demand shifts (provided of course a balance with a centralized regulatory apparatus) and economic fluctuations.
 
The Associated Press: Cuba to cut 500,000 gov't workers, reform salaries

Huge news out of Cuba that will have an incredible impact on the future of that country. It will certainly create short-term difficulties for the 10-20% of the population that will lose their jobs, but if this leads to increased economic freedom, it should help the country as a whole in the long term.

On the plus side...worse case scenario there is always the Cuban citizens version of free healthcare...
BEDATMARINAAZCUY1.jpg


and ample opportunities for free meals...
Destruc0710S.jpg
 
Ummmmm...

Doooood...

your hospital picture...

its from Cuba...

Nope, it's from the US.

Here's some American prisoners:

ebensee-subcamp-5-7-45-usarchives-pd.jpg


Let me know when my point gets through your thick, dense partisan skull.
 
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Nope, it's from the US.

Here's some American prisoners:

ebensee-subcamp-5-7-45-usarchives-pd.jpg


Let me know when my point gets through your thick, dense partisan skull.

You dont check the properties of the pictures you post...do you...:lamo
 
You dont check the properties of the pictures you post...do you...

Oh damn you're right I should start basing all of my beliefs on what the URL of photos tells me.


Here you go!

The link very conclusively says that it's a US hospital so it must be true, right? Right?!
 
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Lol it's pretty funny because I specifically used that photo to prove how unsubstantiated your beliefs are. Anyways, you're very obviously simply trolling this thread, as usual, so I won't respond to your trash anymore. I think it's very obvious to anyone that visits this thread that you're just spamming stuff you can't even defend and probably know nothing about aside from what you've read on "The Real Cuba".

RightinNYC I'd be glad to continue where we left off if you have anything further to add.
 
Lol it's pretty funny because I specifically used that photo to prove how unsubstantiated your beliefs are. Anyways, you're very obviously simply trolling this thread, as usual, so I won't respond to your trash anymore. I think it's very obvious to anyone that visits this thread that you're just spamming stuff you can't even defend and probably know nothing about aside from what you've read on "The Real Cuba".

RightinNYC I'd be glad to continue where we left off if you have anything further to add.

Right...because you have ALWAYS honestly considered both sides of 'the real Cuba'...the failings as well as your indefatigable defenses, right? Riiiiiiiiiiiiight....:lamo
 
Oh come now. Wasn't it just a few days ago that Castro said he misspoke and it was the Capitalist system that wouldn't work? Well how does he explain his economy being in the toilet for a long time befor the Soviet Union broke up and their help had already gone away. Socialism/Marxism/Communism are al race to the bottom where only those at the top get any real benefit and that comes at a high price to those not in power.

When the people who work hard have there money taken and given to others they soon give up because there is nothing to gain from being productive.

Just look at people who work for the Government here. Their unions see to it they are payed well for doing a crappy job so they do a crappy job and don't give a damn about the people they are supposed to be helping . California DMV is a perfect example.

Obam is looking to put us in the same mess with is idiotic ideas and crazy agenda and taxing those who work hard to give it to people who do nothing but hang around with a hand out and never did a good days work.

I realize there are some really great Government workers and to them i say thanks, but they are rare.
 
I've been to Cuba and was temporarily working in their hospital system. The only thing it lacks is resources. The training of the doctors is world class and the access to medications is second to none. Cuban doctors have worldwide exchange programs to help other nations learn and develop medical infrastructure.

The pictures posted in this thread are not accurate. Although the hospitals do not visually look to be up to standards of what modern architecture looks like in the U.S. hospital system, they follow all the standard procedures that American hospitals do, such as sterilization, routine replacement of patient bedding, showering facilities, etc. Any claims to the contrary are ignorant propaganda.
 
Nope, it's from the US.

Here's some American prisoners:

ebensee-subcamp-5-7-45-usarchives-pd.jpg


Let me know when my point gets through your thick, dense partisan skull.
Looks to me like something pointed got through your thick, dense partisan skull.
 
Lol it's pretty funny because I specifically used that photo to prove how unsubstantiated your beliefs are. Anyways, you're very obviously simply trolling this thread, as usual, so I won't respond to your trash anymore. I think it's very obvious to anyone that visits this thread that you're just spamming stuff you can't even defend and probably know nothing about aside from what you've read on "The Real Cuba".

RightinNYC I'd be glad to continue where we left off if you have anything further to add.
You're very obviously trolling this website for years.
 
Cuba actually does produce many doctors. I suppose since Che Gervara was a doctor himself that sort of thing has always kicked off in Cuban society.
 
So we now have 500,000 communists out of work, no problem the state will take care of them. :thumbs:
 
I've been to Cuba and was temporarily working in their hospital system. The only thing it lacks is resources. The training of the doctors is world class and the access to medications is second to none. Cuban doctors have worldwide exchange programs to help other nations learn and develop medical infrastructure.

The pictures posted in this thread are not accurate. Although the hospitals do not visually look to be up to standards of what modern architecture looks like in the U.S. hospital system, they follow all the standard procedures that American hospitals do, such as sterilization, routine replacement of patient bedding, showering facilities, etc. Any claims to the contrary are ignorant propaganda.

People that have lived there say different. They acknowledge that there are indeed two systems...one for the wealthy and tourists and one for the common folk. I know (knew-1 passed away a few years back) 3 such people...people that made very good money in the US and then chose to live in Cuba where they were treated quite well. Of course they would be...good propoganda tools, good wealth to exploit, come back to the states every few years to sell a new book or new art projects, speaking engagements, then return back to their 'home'. So I wont say I dont believe you...just that others I know...defenders of CUba and Castro, say different.
 
Cuba actually does produce many doctors. I suppose since Che Gervara was a doctor himself that sort of thing has always kicked off in Cuban society.

Those work camps sure did 'cure' many a homosexual Cuban...lets just say his methods were extreme...but...effective...
 
Capitalist storm clouds loom over Havana after state cuts 1m jobs

Capitalist storm clouds loom over Havana after state cuts 1m jobs
Capitalist storm clouds loom over Havana after state cuts 1m jobs | World news | The Guardian

Cuban workers told to become entrepreneurs in bid to boost island's private sector
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 14 September 2010 22.00 BST


Authorities announced yesterday they will lay off more than 1 million state employees in the island's biggest economic shake-up since the 1960s. Cuts begin immediately, with 500,000 jobs due to go by March. Loosened controls on private enterprise will, it is hoped, jumpstart the private sector and turn former public workers into entrepreneurs.

"Our state cannot and should not continue maintaining companies, productive entities, services and budgeted sectors with bloated payrolls [and] losses that hurt the economy," said the official Cuban labour federation, which announced the news.
Raúl Castro said: “The Cuban government and its enterprises might have more than one million excess workers on their payrolls.” To the total open unemployment of “more than one million,” it would be necessary to add the "hidden unemployment," kind of underemployment, and the latent one.

We are talking of the enormous military and repressive apparatus, of the bloated government bureaucracy and the Cuban communist party. An approximate calculus of the open, hidden and latent unemployment could surpass the number of 2.5 million people unemployed in today's Cuba.
 
Re: Capitalist storm clouds loom over Havana after state cuts 1m jobs

Quite a blow to such a small country, but hopefully in the end they will be better off for it.
 
Re: Capitalist storm clouds loom over Havana after state cuts 1m jobs

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Wonder what the Red mouthpieces across the campuses will say now, as their clean running water and excellent healthcare-enabled utopia behaves just like the fascist capitalist fatcats, who they always despised?!

In communism, as a Russian penpal once told me, despite all else, at least you had a guaranteed job. (Even in the gulag you had one, as well as having the job of digging your own grave before you were shot!)


The Dream Is Over, as Lennon sang! Never started at all really, but if that doesn't hit home to the leftist loonies by now then it never will!
 
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Re: Capitalist storm clouds loom over Havana after state cuts 1m jobs

ROP, have you ever actually in your life, in person, heard anyone say how great a place Cuba was?
 
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