Castro increases minimum wage.CASTRO INCREASES MINIMUM WAGE. Cuban President Fidel Castro Noun 1. Fidel Castro - Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba (born in 1927)Castro, Fidel Castro Ruz announced that the minimum wage would be more than doubled to 225 pesos (US$10) a month from 100 pesos (US$4.50), effective on May 1, reports Reuters (April 22, 2005): The raise benefits 1.6 million Cubans who earn the lowest salaries in Communist Cuba, including farm laborers, plumbers, carpenters, bakers and undertakers. Castro made the announcement in the latest of his three-hour speeches addressing economic problems endured by Cubans since the collapse of the Soviet Union plunged Cuba into deep crisis. It was the eighth speech in 10 days broadcast live to the nation. Castro said this would raise the average monthly wage in Cuba to 312 pesos (US$14.20) from 282 pesos (US$12.80) at a cost to the government of US$48.4 million; Cubans welcomed the raises, but said it was still too little to live on. Rent and public services Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. are heavily subsidized sub·si·dize tr.v. sub·si·dized, sub·si·diz·ing, sub·si·diz·es 1. To assist or support with a subsidy. 2. To secure the assistance of by granting a subsidy. in Cuba, but essential consumer goods consumer goods Any tangible commodity purchased by households to satisfy their wants and needs. Consumer goods may be durable or nondurable. Durable goods (e.g., autos, furniture, and appliances) have a significant life span, often defined as three years or more, and are more expensive than in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Many Cubans supplement their meager mea·ger also mea·gre adj. 1. Deficient in quantity, fullness, or extent; scanty. 2. Deficient in richness, fertility, or vigor; feeble: the meager soil of an eroded plain. 3. wages working on the black-market. The luckier ones receive cash remittances from relatives abroad; Castro's drive to improve the lot of deprived Cubans began on March 8, when he announced the distribution of cheap pressure cookers and electric rice steamers for every household. On March 31, he increase pensions and social security benefits by 50% for 1.5 million Cubans. He has promised ration-book handouts of chocolate and better quality coffee; The 78-year-old Cuban leader called on Cubans to save electricity to help the energy-deficient Caribbean island overcome chronic power outages This is a list of famous wide-scale power outages. 1965
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