MÉRIDA, Mexico -. The Cuban government has imposed fines totaling 348 million pesos on small and medium-sized private companies (MSMEs) in the last two months for failing to comply with the price cap.
Between July 15 and September 19, 137,391 sanctions were imposed after carrying out 222,300 business inspections, It emerged this Monday in a report from Cubadebateaccording to statements by the First Vice Minister of Economy and Planning, Mildrey Granadillo de la Torre, during the last Council of Ministers, whose date was not specified.
The fines fall within the measure of a limit on six products: chicken, oil, sausages, powdered milk, pasta and detergent, which will be established on July 8.
The product limits are as follows: chopped polo, 680 pesos; a liter of vegetable oil, 990 pesos; a kilo of sausage, 1,045 pesos; per kilogram of powdered milk, 1,675 pesos; a kilo of pasta, 835 pesos; and detergent, 630 pesos.
Crusade against MSMEs
The attack against the private sector has not stopped in recent months. The Cuban regime expanded, since last September 19, the list of prohibited activities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)non-agricultural cooperatives and self-employed workers on the Island.
Among the activities that were prohibited for the private sector were the manufacturing and repair of medical equipment, including its installation. According to the new regulations, “dental materials, medical supplies and expendable materials for exclusive use in human health may only be marketed to the public health system.”
In addition, Decree 107/2024 imposes restrictions in the forestry and fishing sphere. Timber extraction and other activities related to forest resources will remain outside the reach of the private sector. Similarly, fishing for certain protected species is prohibited.
Another area affected by the new regulations is the management of sewage and wastewater treatment systems in settlements with populations greater than 1,000 inhabitants, an activity that will also be exclusive to the state sector.
Wholesale trade, one of the activities that many self-employed workers had considered to expand their operations, will also be banned under the new rules.
The regime also maintains the prohibition of establishing academies and private education centers. According to the regulations, “non-state forms of management do not provide qualifications in any of the teaching modalities nor do they issue course or workshop certificates.” In addition, music and other arts teachers will not be able to carry out these activities in state institutions either.
Likewise, Decree 107/2024 prohibits the calling and organization of international events, as well as the development of cultural programming activities. This includes music, performing arts, plastic arts and cinema, among others. The creation, promotion and commercialization of artist catalogs will also not be allowed, which will directly affect those who are dedicated to cultural and artistic management independently.
Cuban economist Pedro Monreal highlighted in his profile on the social network X that “more than half of the prohibitions contained in these new regulations are concentrated in key productive sectors such as agriculture and industry.” The specialist highlighted that these areas are essential for the Cuban economy and that the new limitations will only aggravate the material shortcomings that citizens already face.
