Cuban President Defends Enterprise Autonomy and Worker Involvement in Decision-Making

During a tour for several productive entities linked to the Ministries of the Food Industry and Agriculture, President Miguel Díaz-Canel defended Cuban enterprise autonomy and worker involvement in decision-making.

The head of state visited La Pasiega pasta factory, the export-import company Cítricos Caribe S.A., and the Occidental Rum Base Unit — all located in Havana. Amid the severe restrictions imposed by the intensified U.S. blockade and the recent energy siege, these businesses seek alternatives to sustain production.

During the tour, the president insisted that the entire Cuban business system take advantage of the opportunities provided by the 176 economic and social transformations recently approved, whose legal norms will be published soon. He stressed prior preparation so that productive forces are unleashed with agility, and business autonomy is assumed responsibly.

He cited concrete issues such as decentralizing powers for setting wholesale and retail prices, flexibilizing after-tax profit allocation, approving salary scales, importing and exporting without intermediaries, and managing necessary fuel supplies.

Díaz-Canel emphasized the social responsibility of Cuban enterprises toward their communities, including attention to retirees, vulnerable groups, and youth. He argued that profits should not only increase salaries but also address workers' housing, food, and other incentives to retain the workforce.

He insisted that workers participate in decision-making, from planning to profit distribution. The tour began at La Pasiega, a pre-Revolutionary factory now producing ten tons of pasta daily at 80% capacity, and is in the process of becoming a state-owned MSME for greater autonomy.

The tour continued at Cítricos Caribe S.A., an import-export agricultural enterprise, and ended at the Occidental Rum distillery, which produces Legendario, Herencia, and Don Diego rums. The distillery, hit by daily power outages, is installing a 300-kW renewable energy system to ensure self-sufficiency.