HAVANA, February 12 (Manuel David Orrio, CPI) – In a country where the
average worker’s salary is 230 pesos a month, streetsweepers in
tourist-sensitive areas of Havana can earn 900 pesos, and garbage truck drivers
in the same areas, as much as 1,200 pesos a month. Needless to say, the job is
sought after.
Julio César, who wouldn’t give his last name, is a streetsweeper
in an area frequented by foreign tourists. "I have a friend who is an
engineer who works as a streetsweeper. He wants the money that he can’t
earn with his degree, but he is ashamed of being seen picking up garbage, so he
wears dark glasses and a hat down to his ears," he said.
In addition to more pay, these workers get cleaning supplies which their
less-fortunate colleagues may not always have. This has resulted in some
under-the-table traffic in trash cans and brooms. "Some garbagemen in the
10 de Octubre municipality have had to find their own trash cans. The broom I
use can be sold for 60 pesos," said Julio César.
Ironically, the capitalist incentives seem to be working; the areas
maintained by the higher-paid garbagemen do look cleaner. Some areas in the
heavily-populated Central Havana district show piles of garbage when days go by
without a pick-up. The favored districts, those that tourists are likely to
visit, such as Old Havana, the beaches in Habana del Este and Playa, and the
municipality of Plaza, get regular service and simply look cleaner.
Versión original
en español
CubaNet does not require sole rights from its
contributors. We authorize the reproduction and distribution of this
article as long as the source is credited.
| 