Was attracted by the above headline that appeared in Sunday's international section of Brazil's O Estado De S.Paulo newspaper. The following is my translation of the longish article's salient points that might be of concern to BOTL. Basically, Cubans are in trouble.
Sub-heading of article, "Tobacco sector of the collective to lay off 15% of it's workers"
Leonardo Pema chews on his cigar, as he looks out over the tobacco plantation he manages for the state. He feels much concern knowing that next March, when the new crop is planted, the field area for cigar tobacco on this plantation will be reduced by 10%. That area will then be planted in beans and other vegetables to meet the growing demand for food in Cuba, while reducing the output of one of Cuba's best known cigars. Moreover, he is concerned about the layoffs of tobacco workers, many he calls "friend," that will accompany the reduction in planting, growing and processing tobacco.
Cigars are the third greatest source of revenue from exports (behind nickel and pharmaceuticals) for Cuba, representing 20% of the nation's sales to the world. However, as recently as this October, officials estimate cigar sales internationally are down 15% from a year ago. While government officials can only guess if some of this downturn can be blamed on lowered individual purchasing power as a result of global recession or the increased restrictions on smoking in many nations, the impact is certain for many of the 200,000 Cuban tobacco workers who make their living in this collective and another 100,000 workers in auxillary trades associated with the cultivating and sales of Cuban tobacco.
Like many other manufacturers, officials from Partagas recently announced a major layoff of workers due to that company's growing stockpile of cigars in warehouses throughout Cuba. Because the Cuban government rigidly controls cigar manufacturing, global sales pricing, as well as quantity of available cigars in order to maintain those prices, it has dictated that the next growing season in Cuba will see a 30% decrease in tobacco planted. Throughout Cuba, a total of 19,800 hectacres will be planted in vegatables, where formerly devoted to high-grade tobacco. Thus requiring many in the cigar collective to be given a "work holiday" (layoff.)
The decision to layoff so many workers could negatively impact many in Cuba who are already subsisting on minimal wages. Leonardo Pema, as boss of this large Cohiba plantation only 200km from Havana, earns the U.S. equivalent of $35 per month. For many of his workers, a layoff could have deep psychological and economic impact. This disorientation of function is at the heart of the crisis faced in Cuba today and will surely be more strongly felt come the next tobacco planting cycle.
Sub-heading of article, "Tobacco sector of the collective to lay off 15% of it's workers"
Leonardo Pema chews on his cigar, as he looks out over the tobacco plantation he manages for the state. He feels much concern knowing that next March, when the new crop is planted, the field area for cigar tobacco on this plantation will be reduced by 10%. That area will then be planted in beans and other vegetables to meet the growing demand for food in Cuba, while reducing the output of one of Cuba's best known cigars. Moreover, he is concerned about the layoffs of tobacco workers, many he calls "friend," that will accompany the reduction in planting, growing and processing tobacco.
Cigars are the third greatest source of revenue from exports (behind nickel and pharmaceuticals) for Cuba, representing 20% of the nation's sales to the world. However, as recently as this October, officials estimate cigar sales internationally are down 15% from a year ago. While government officials can only guess if some of this downturn can be blamed on lowered individual purchasing power as a result of global recession or the increased restrictions on smoking in many nations, the impact is certain for many of the 200,000 Cuban tobacco workers who make their living in this collective and another 100,000 workers in auxillary trades associated with the cultivating and sales of Cuban tobacco.
Like many other manufacturers, officials from Partagas recently announced a major layoff of workers due to that company's growing stockpile of cigars in warehouses throughout Cuba. Because the Cuban government rigidly controls cigar manufacturing, global sales pricing, as well as quantity of available cigars in order to maintain those prices, it has dictated that the next growing season in Cuba will see a 30% decrease in tobacco planted. Throughout Cuba, a total of 19,800 hectacres will be planted in vegatables, where formerly devoted to high-grade tobacco. Thus requiring many in the cigar collective to be given a "work holiday" (layoff.)
The decision to layoff so many workers could negatively impact many in Cuba who are already subsisting on minimal wages. Leonardo Pema, as boss of this large Cohiba plantation only 200km from Havana, earns the U.S. equivalent of $35 per month. For many of his workers, a layoff could have deep psychological and economic impact. This disorientation of function is at the heart of the crisis faced in Cuba today and will surely be more strongly felt come the next tobacco planting cycle.
