Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Cuba
Capital
Havana (La Habana)
Currency
Cuban Peso
Languages
Spanish, Haitian Creole
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
6,630 USD
Employer Tax
14%
Talent Overview
Cuba is located in the Caribbean Sea. It is home to over 11 million people, making it the most populous country in the Caribbean. Cuba’s GDP represents 0.09% of the world economy and is expected to reach 97.30 USD Billion in 2022. The Cuban economy is a mixed and centrally-planned economy, with state-owned enterprises accounting for most of the country’s GDP.
Major economic hubs:
Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Holguín
Skills in demand:
Healthcare, Tourism, Manufacturing, Education, Technology
Local Universities
The top local universities in Cuba are as follows:
Local: 1
World: 2391
Local: 2
World: 3754
Local: 3
World: 4615
Local: 4
World: 4616
Local: 5
World: 4820
Salary Data
Some common jobs in Cuba with average monthly salary are as follows;
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (Cuban Peso) | Average Salary (in USD) |
| Accounting Assistant | 11,600 CUP | 478.42 USD |
| Financial Analyst | 26,600 CUP | 1097.06 USD |
| Business Analyst | 25,700 CUP | 1059.94 USD |
| Project Manager | 23,900 CUP | 985.70 USD |
| Customer Service Manager | 29,400 CUP | 1212.54 USD |
| General Manager | 38,100 CUP | 1571.35 USD |
| Human Resources Manager | 31,000 CUP | 1278.53 USD |
With its well-educated workforce and proximity to developed countries, Cuba has long been an attractive destination for investors. However, the Cuban government imposes strict controls on businesses operating in the country. Here are some vital labor laws an employer should know.
In Cuba, the employment contract is known as a “Contrato de Servicio de Fuerza de Trabajo” or “Workforce Service Contract.” Cuba recognizes written and verbal contracts. In the case of verbal agreements, it is valid for 90 days and must be formalized on paper after.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | Liberation Day | National holiday |
| 2 Jan | Victory Day | National holiday |
| 7 Apr | Good Friday | National holiday |
| 1 May | Labor Day / May Day | National holiday |
| 25 Jul | Revolution Anniversary | National holiday |
| 26 Jul | Day of the Rebellion | National holiday |
| 27 Jul | Revolution Anniversary Celebration | National holiday |
| 10 Oct | Beginning of the War of Independence | National holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | National holiday |
| 31 Dec | New Year’s Eve | National holiday |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Workers are paid monthly.
Minimum Wage
Based on the Occupational group, the minimum wage in Cuba ranges from CUP 2,100 to CUP 6,310 for 40 hours of work per week. Similarly, for 44 hours per week, the minimum wage ranges from CUP 1,910 to CUP 5,735.
Overtime Pay
The typical workweek is forty-four hours per week, eight hours per day.
The law doesn’t prohibit mandatory overtime but limits it to 16 hours per week and 160 per year.
Overtime pay is in cash or extra rest time. Workers who must work on a holiday or rest day are paid a 100% premium.
Bonus
There is no mandatory law about 13th-month pay.
The employer is obliged to provide food and adequate accommodation, where appropriate.
Taxes
There is no statutory law for employer deductions.
There is no statutory law for employee deductions.
| Tax Rate | Contribution |
| Up to CUP 10,000 | 15% |
| CUP 10,000 – 20,000 | 20% |
| CUP 20,000 – 30,000 | 30% |
| CUP 30,000 – 50,000 | 40% |
| Over CUP 50,000 | 50% |
There is no VAT in Cuba.
Offboarding & Termination
According to Cuba’s Labor Code, an employment contract may be terminated by both the employee and employer.
For employers, they may only terminate an employee due to:
For contracts with an indefinite period, the notice period depends on which occupation group one belongs to. Below are the conditions and notice period it must follow:
| Occupation Group | Notice Period |
| I and II of the salary scale | 15 days |
| III, IV and V of the salary scale | 2 months |
| VI, VII, VIII and IX of the salary scale and for those who hold positions that require a medium-level degree as a requirement | 3 months |
| Positions that require a higher level degree as a requirement | 4 months |
There is no recognition of severance or redundancy payments. Still, according to the Labour Code, the worker does have the right to receive the wage for the work performed, the accumulated annual paid vacations, and corresponding to the provision of social security that had been perceived at the time of termination of the employment relationship.
Visa and Immigration
To stay and work in Cuba, individuals have to get:
| Type of Visa | Purpose |
| Cuba Work Visa (D-1) | For foreign nationals who have a work offer from a Cuban company or from a Cuban organization (For technicians and scientists) |
| Cuba Business Visa (D-7) | For foreign nationals who wish to conduct business in Cuba |
