A young Cuban woman utilized her social media profile to explain to her followers what can be purchased today with the minimum wage earned by workers on the Island. Engineer Raisa Zequeira, a mother of two and an entrepreneur, shared a video on Instagram revealing the food items she bought at a Cuban agricultural market and the price of each.
"I'll show you what we can buy here in Cuba with a little more than a minimum wage. Of course, I'm talking about food, because purchasing clothing or shoes is nearly impossible. Let me know what you think about this," wrote the young woman in her post.
Firstly, the engineer explained that the minimum wage in Cuba hovers around 2,100 pesos since the implementation of the failed "economic and monetary reordering" by the government of so-called "continuity" under Miguel Díaz-Canel. Since then (January 2021) to the present, inflation has skyrocketed in Cuba, and prices have risen uncontrollably, while wages have seen only insignificant increases.
After clarifying the amount of the minimum wage, Zequeira showcased her purchase, consisting of a string of purple onions (barely ten onions) which cost her 1,000 Cuban pesos (CUP).
Additionally, the young woman bought five plantains at 30 pesos each (150 CUP), a string of garlic containing approximately twenty heads (1,500 CUP), and four pounds of green tomatoes, at 70 pesos per pound (280 CUP). The total cost of Zequeira's purchase came to 2,930 Cuban pesos.
"Do you think it's expensive or cheap? In my opinion, it's extremely expensive because with 2,900 pesos, what have we been able to buy? Garlic, onion, five plantains, and a bit of tomato," concluded the young woman.
Zequeira is the creator of other videos like this one, where she highlights the everyday problems faced by Cubans. At the end of May, she shared a video explaining the bartering system that more and more people are resorting to in order to meet their basic needs for food, hygiene, and personal care.
In mid-May, the YouTuber also shared with her followers a day at the Provincial Pediatric Hospital of Artemisa, where her four-year-old son was admitted. The images depicted the severe crisis in the Public Health System in Cuba. Alongside the shortage of medicines, the lack of medical supplies, and the deteriorated hospital infrastructure, the unsanitary conditions of the hospital were also highlighted by the young Cuban mother.
Understanding Minimum Wage and Inflation in Cuba
To provide more context on the issues surrounding minimum wage and inflation in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What is the current minimum wage in Cuba?
The current minimum wage in Cuba is approximately 2,100 Cuban pesos, as a result of the economic and monetary reordering implemented in January 2021.
How has inflation affected the cost of living in Cuba?
Since the introduction of the economic reordering, inflation has surged in Cuba, leading to uncontrollable price increases for basic goods and services, while wages have remained relatively stagnant.
What items did Raisa Zequeira purchase with her wage?
Raisa Zequeira purchased a string of purple onions, five plantains, a string of garlic, and four pounds of green tomatoes, for a total of 2,930 Cuban pesos.
What other everyday challenges do Cubans face?
In addition to high food prices, Cubans face challenges such as a deteriorating healthcare system, scarcity of medicines and medical supplies, and poor hospital conditions.