Posted on 04/21/2005 10:42:07 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro announced on Thursday the minimum wage would be more than doubled to 225 pesos ($10) a month from 100 pesos ($4.50), effective on May 1.
The raise will benefit 1.6 million Cubans who earn the lowest salaries in Communist Cuba, including farm laborers, plumbers, carpenters, bakers and undertakers.
Castro made the announcement in the latest of his three-hour speeches addressing economic problems endured by Cubans since the collapse of the Soviet Union plunged Cuba into deep crisis. It was the eighth speech in 10 days broadcast live to the nation.
"The increase will raise the minimum salary from 100 pesos to 225 pesos," the Cuban leader said.
Castro said this would raise the average monthly wage in Cuba to 312 pesos ($14.20) from 282 pesos ($12.80) at a cost to the government of $48.4 million.
Cubans welcomed the raises, but said it was still too little to live on. Rent and public services are heavily subsidized in Cuba, but essential consumer goods are more expensive than in the United States.
Many Cubans supplement their meager wages working on the black-market. The luckier ones receive cash remittances from relatives abroad.
Castro's drive to improve the lot of deprived Cubans began on March 8, when he announced the distribution of cheap pressure cookers and electric rice steamers for every household.
On March 31, he increase pensions and social security benefits by 50 percent for 1.5 million Cubans. He has promised ration-book handouts of chocolate and better quality coffee.
On Thursday, the 78-year-old Cuban leader called on Cubans to save electricity to help the energy-deficient Caribbean island overcome chronic power outages.
Castro promised the population new and more efficient household appliances, such as electric fans and refrigerators.
He displayed on stage two American-made Frigidaire and Westinghouse fridges from the 1950's that are still in use in Cuba, and homemade ventilators, as examples of appliances that consume too much electricity.
"We are going to have less power cuts," he promised.
Castro has expressed confidence about Cuba's economic recovery in recent months, based on increased earnings from tourism and nickel exports.
Good to see communism is "alive" and "well". LOL!!!!
Why doesn't he just volunteer his country to become part of China? It would be a whale of a lot simpler.
Woo hoo!! Now all the liberals can move to Kuber.
I hope all their wheelbarrows are operational for that thrice-daily trip to the market for a 'loaf' of 'bread.'
That should tell any intelligent person, everything that they need to know.
Castro is crossing that bridge into the 21st Century I see ;-)
Hugo Chevez is the next leftist hero. He'll be makng a speech at Columbia sooner than later.
Further proof that socialism is on a roll. I am sure it will increase to $20 per month in no time.
Livin large in the 'worker's paradise'!
So the average family will now be able to afford a '62 Chevey in half of the time...Now 50 years!
Viva Coooba!!!
Livin large in the 'worker's paradise'!
WOW, the luxury of socialist living! New electric fans! That ought to beat the heat in Cuba.
Go, Fidel!!! You, Ted Kennedy, and the Dimocrats all think alike, now, don't you?
HA! HA! HA!
Kennedy, Pelosi, Clinton, Schumer are you listening?
</sarcasm>
I see Castro understands economics about as well as your average Berkeley ivory tower egghead. Guess what's also going up with the minimum wage hike?
Cuba PING
Those zany lefties are always hung up on raising the minimum wage!
Nocturnal dissident leaflets Havana, Cuba yards (Bush Inaugural Address, distrib by US)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1388777/posts
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.