SANTIAGO DE CUBA, April 14 (Santiago Santana, APLO) - Local authorities rescinded self-employment licenses of 20 workers who used to make bath and laundry soap at home in Sagua de Tánamo, Holguín province, in eastern Cuba.

The measure not only deprives 20 families of income, but is expected to aggravate the soap scarcity in the region. Self employed soap makers had been supplying soap since 1990 to local residents.

The rationing system provides for half a bar of soap per person per month. The only other alternative open to consumers is to buy soap at the government operated dollar stores, at between 7 to 12 pesos per bar (U.S. $0.35 to 0.60), which is equivalent to the daily salary of the average Cuban worker.

Some observers say that the government measure is intended to increase sales at the dollar stores, since the self-employed were able to produce soap at lower prices.

Versión original en español

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