Cuba raises minimum wage 53% as power outages hit up to 64% of island

The Cuban government announced a 53% increase in the minimum wage, raising it from 2,100 to 3,210 Cuban pesos and extending the rise to more than one million public‑sector employees in health, education, culture and administration. Officials framed the adjustment as part of a broader economic reform programme, while economists and citizens on social media described it as demagogy that will be eroded by inflation and persistent shortages.

At the same time, Cuba is enduring a severe electricity crisis. On Sunday the state utility UNE reported that only about 1,100 MW of power were available against a peak demand of roughly 3,200 MW, creating a shortfall of over 2,000 MW. The outage affected up to 64% of the island during peak afternoon‑evening hours, with some areas experiencing more than 24 hours of blackout and others up to two days without power. The shortfall stems from aging thermal‑generation units, maintenance outages, and a U.S. oil embargo that limits fuel imports. Solar installations provide limited daytime relief, but the overall system remains critically strained.