Miami exile radio shitting a brick: Economic disruption of mass layoffs in Cuba could lead to exodus

[Mika]

The old guard does not like the new arrivals from Cuba (cuz they don't all hate the Castros, and won't vote Repig).

This has been a major topic on Miami exile radio since (as they say) Fidel "admitted" that the Cuban model is a failure. Many callers are worried that if too many younger generation post revolution Cuban migrants get to Miami, then the old timers will lose their US socialist benefits (worrying that the Americans will catch on to the gravy train and cut the exile programs in these times of cutbacks, and will get little support from the young Cubans who revile them). Now that the old gen is here safe and sound, many are voicing support to ending Wet Foot/Dry Foot to keep the young Cubans from coming to Miami.

Always interesting to see the worms squirming.
:popcorn:

Economic disruption of mass layoffs in Cuba could lead to exodus
http://www.tampabay.com/news/world/economic-disruption-of-mass-layoffs-in-cuba-could-lead-to-exodus/1121594

(snip)

If this economic overhaul doesn't work, should we expect a mass exodus from the island?

It's hard to say what will happen. The outlines of economic reform seem to satisfy both the pragmatics (more space for private business) as well as leftist critics in Cuba (collectivization and more workplace democracy via co-ops). It also seems the government continues to prioritize health care and education in their spending, while continuing some subsidies for food and housing. That should give the government broad backing and some leeway should the reform hit serious bumps.

The biggest resistance will come from an entrenched bureaucracy. It remains to be seen whether inflated ministries will also be reduced in size.

Doubtless, the transition means a massive disruption. And any substantial disruption of the economic structure — look at Puerto Rico in the 1960s and '70s, Mexico in the 1980s and '90s, Dominican Republic in the 1990s — inevitably produces mass emigration. The question is how Cuba and the United States will channel the migratory pressure.

---

[Judi Lynn]

1. This is terrific! Hope the next wave will bring a lot of better radio talent, too!

Would it not be sublime to see a swarm of engaging, actually INTERESTING, capable, intelligent radio personalities arrive to replace the ####tards who've been snorting into the microphones there all these years?

I hope there will be a spotlight directed upon the Cuban Adjustment Act. It's time for a few adjustments to the Adjustment Act.

How about fixing it so prominent Cuban "exile" politicians' creepy, vicious grammas stop loading up on benefits from the U.S. taxpayers they really don't need, or getting six levels of employees fired when they don't please them at the government offices when they come to sign up for them, like Florida Senator David Rivera's grandmother?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Layoffs just part of Cuba's big economic revamp

Layoffs just part of Cuba's big economic revamp
Paul Haven,Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press
Wednesday, September 15, 2010


(09-15) 04:00 PDT Havana - --

An internal Communist Party document envisions a radically revamped Cuban economy, with a new tax code, freshly legalized private cooperatives and a state payroll no longer shackled by the need to support at least a half-million idle or unproductive workers.

The document - obtained Tuesday by the Associated Press - also offers a cold dose of reality for those who think reforming one of the last bastions of Soviet-style communism will be easy: It warns that many of the new businesses will be shuttered within a year.

The 26-page document fleshes out some of the details of sweeping layoffs of 500,000 workers by March 2011 that Cuba announced Monday in the most dramatic reform instituted since President Raul Castro took over from his ailing brother, Fidel, in 2008.

Workers at the ministries of sugar, tourism and agriculture will be let go first - and some layoffs at those entities already began in July, the document said. The last in line for cutbacks include the Civil Aviation sector and the Ministry of Social Services - the very agency charged with overseeing the layoffs.

No government sector appears to go untouched, with cuts scheduled for Cuba's vaunted athletics program - long favored under sports-crazy Fidel Castro since the early days of his 1959 revolution - and even its health and education ministries.

More:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/15/MNQD1FDPU5.DTL&type=politics#ixzz0zcMTlzMX

[Judi Lynn]

3. Cuba reveals grand plan for laid-off government workers

Cuba reveals grand plan for laid-off government workers
Published On Tue Sep 14 2010

By Olivia Ward
Foreign Affairs Reporter

Is it the dawn of freedom, or shock therapy, Cuban style?

That’s the question half a million Cuban state workers will be asking as they await layoff notices over the next six months and ponder how to find new jobs in private businesses that were illegal under former president Fidel Castro.

On Monday, the Cuban Workers Federation announced plans that could lead to 1 million public sector job losses ranging from the flagging sugar industry to tourism, agriculture and Cuba’s flagship health program.

It’s a major shift for President Raul Castro’s economic reforms, and a sign that his government is ready to cut its losses after decades of strict socialism, and two years of recession that followed disastrous hurricane damage.

“Our state cannot and should not continue maintaining companies, productive entities, services and budgeted sectors with bloated payrolls (and) losses that hurt the economy,” the workers federation said in a statement.

But it added that “job options will be increased and broadened” with new opportunities for non state jobs, including cooperative ventures, leasing land from the government for farming, and private enterprise like driving cabs, making bricks and piloting Havana’s ferries.

A 26-page Communist Party document, dated Aug. 24 and laid out like a PowerPoint presentation, was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. It explains what to look for when deciding whom to lay off. Those whose pay is not in line with their low productivity and those who lack discipline or are not interested in work will go first. It says that some dismissed workers should be offered alternative jobs within the public sector.

More:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/861092--cuba-reveals-grand-plan-for-laid-off-government-workers