Cuban Small Businesses Struggle to Find Workers Amidst Low Wages

Many small private businesses in Cuba are finding it hard to hire and keep employees. This is happening in places like Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila, where restaurants, printing shops, and construction companies can't seem to find enough stable workers.

Some job offers are for about 900 Cuban pesos a day. This is just a little more than one US dollar, based on the unofficial exchange rate. The problem shows a big conflict: businesses need people to operate, but the money they offer isn't enough for the long hours or to cover basic needs.

📄 A Tale of Two Restaurants

The reopening of the Chinese restaurant D'Ichín in Camagüey highlighted this issue. After going private, they advertised for waiters, cooks, and kitchen helpers. The daily pay of 900 pesos, plus extra to be decided, drew criticism online for being too low.

At Nü House, another restaurant in Camagüey, former employees reported that kitchen assistants made around 1,250 pesos per shift. Cooks and pizza makers earned between 2,000 and 3,000 pesos, depending on sales. One worker left for what they felt was a better opportunity selling bread on the street.

📄 Beyond Restaurants

This problem isn't just in the food industry. Owners of printing businesses and construction crews say they constantly have to train new staff, deal with people quitting, and even turn down jobs because they lack a steady team.

📄 Why the Shortage? Inflation and Low Pay

The core issue is the declining purchasing power of wages. Cuba's inflation hit 28.44% in September 2026, with food prices jumping 42.66% year-over-year. More pesos don't necessarily mean a better life when prices increase even faster.

For many workers, a regular job simply doesn't pay enough to cover food, transportation, and other essential expenses. While new labor regulations exist for private businesses, they don't fix the main problem of insufficient real income.

📄 What Happens Next?

Until real wages improve, private businesses in Cuba will continue to struggle to attract workers. This situation makes it hard for them to stay open and meet demand. The outlook suggests this challenge will persist if income issues aren't addressed.