The United States Department of State has formally urged the government of Antigua and Barbuda to implement stronger safeguards for Cuban workers employed in the twin-island nation.
In a recent communication, U.S. officials outlined a series of recommended best practices aimed at preventing forced labor and ensuring that Cuban professionals working abroad are treated fairly. The recommendations include requiring binding tripartite contracts signed by the employer, the worker, and the Cuban government to guarantee transparency in employment arrangements.
The State Department also encouraged Antigua and Barbuda to maintain a registry of Cuban workers, conduct unannounced labor inspections, and verify that workers retain control of their passports and professional credentials.
Additional guidance emphasized that salaries should be paid directly to accounts controlled by the workers themselves and that they must enjoy the same labor protections as nationals of the host country.
Other recommendations include allowing Cuban workers the freedom to move independently, socialize freely, and live outside of shared housing arrangements that could enable surveillance.
The U.S. also urged Antigua and Barbuda to protect workers who end their contracts and may fear punishment if they return to Cuba, while calling on Cuban authorities to end the practice of labeling such individuals as “deserters.”
Washington’s appeal reflects longstanding concerns over allegations of coercion within Cuban overseas labor programs, particularly in the health and education sectors.
The State Department has stressed the importance of protecting the human rights of these workers and holding accountable any officials or actors Cuban or otherwise who facilitate or benefit from forced labor practices.
Antiguan authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the recommendations but Prime Minister Gaston Browne strongly defended the Cuban Medical Brigade program, which employs medical professionals from Cuba in the healthcare systems of Antigua and Barbuda.
Earlier this year, during a meeting where leaders from five OECS states and the Bahamas spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, PM Browne aimed to dispel any misconceptions linking this initiative to human trafficking.
Accompanied by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ron Sanders, PM Browne emphasized that the relationship with the Cuban medical personnel is not exploitative.
He clarified that the government compensates the Cuban doctors and nurses fairly, treats them well, and imposes no restrictions on them, stating that their engagement is no different from arrangements made for medical services with professionals from countries like Ghana or the Philippines.
If you keep letting them immigration to Antigua they will displace the locals out of work. They should be forced to go back home at the end of their contract and help to rebuild Cuba to what it once was. Cuba right now is lacking in specialists because too many are abroad. Their health care system is crumbling, they have no specialists in country to fix their electrical / water grid and that is basic necessities
Cuba has been good to Antigua and barbuda. Donald Trump can go to he’ll and stay there
Well said
And now America wants to dictate how we should run our country and programmes. Smfh
My my …..but won’t do the same for them in USA. Any way, no worker any where in the world should ever be exploited.
It seem as if we are in a troubling sticky situation here but nothing that World Boss aka Ras Gassy cannot deal with
Easier said than done. Who will pay for the inspections, the registries, and the extra oversight? Small island states don’t have unlimited resources to implement all these U.S. demands
Cuba has always sent doctors and teachers abroad to help struggling countries. These accusations of forced labor are exaggerated and politically motivated.
Why is Washington always meddling in the internal affairs of small nations? Antigua and Barbuda should be free to decide how it manages its workforce without U.S. interference
Funny though, that countries not liking the interference, are the first to took to America for help when in trouble. Why isn’t America stopping these wars that they didn’t start? Why isn’t America helping to fund? Amazing.
Tell Trump that and when they in boat and they arrive in Florida welcome them with open arms, treat them well, give them political asylum after ALL YOUR FAMILY FROM CUBA AND YOU TREAT THE MIGRANTS SO POORLY, Antigua know how to handle their business. Stop
Tell Trump that and when they in boat and they arrive in Florida welcome them with open arms, treat them well, give them political asylum after ALL YOUR FAMILY FROM CUBA AND YOU TREAT THE MIGRANTS SO POORLY, Antigua know how to handle their business. Stop
PM Browne defending the Cuban medical program is expected, but he should also take the recommendations seriously. It’s about protecting people, not politics.
This is probably the most ridiculous statement made by the fading rapidly declining Americans. They care nothing about Cuba or Cubans evidenced by over sixty years of embargo with the intention of starving the Cuban people. Now that the US is virtually powerless with the rise of BRICS and other rising regional powers they are now trying to resurrect the MONROE DOCTRINE. We in the Caribbean and Latin America must push back at this clown of a nation who is seeking to exploit the Caribbean to project power they no longer possess.
If Cuban doctors are being paid fairly and treated well here, then proving it shouldn’t be a problem.
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But aa…
Why doesn’t the U.S. focus on fixing its own labor issues first?
Antigua and Barbuda needs to tread carefully. The country relies on skilled Cuban professionals, but it must also uphold international labor standards and avoid being accused of enabling abuse
It is very simple Antigua and Barbuda, pay Cuban Medical workers theis salry directly (private accounts) the same way you do with every other Doctor in your country. Then Make those individual contracts PUBLIC for anyone who wants to see them.
The problem is that when you are dealing with Cuba’s Dictator, they will keep 70-90% of the medical workers salary, and they will take away their passports, they will restrict the Doctor’s freedom in your country and they will have cuban gestapo contoling the Doctors.
And that is defined as HUMAN TRAFFICKING and Force Labor And that is Ilegal
That is what Cuba does in every other country (55 countries aroud the world).
If you are different and that does not happen in your country, tben, make your contracts with each individual and make them PUBLIC. Is very simple.
Otherwise is onlyfair to believe that Cuba does with you the same they do with 55 other countrie. That you are the rule, not the exemption.
“”Prime Minister Gaston Browne strongly defended the Cuban Medical Brigade program” How is that possible when the US has declared Cuba as 1 of 11 countries that practices Human Trafficking at the State level? And it does so with 50+ countries in the world. also anyone involved in contracting Cuban drs under Human Trafficking is subject to US visa revocaytion.
You want to solve the problem: 1) Hire and Pay the Cuban Medical Personal (CMP) directly (without Cubas involvement) at the same rate as any other Doctor in your country. 2) Treat CMP as a free citizen of your country without supervision and control of the Cuban Gestapo. 3)We, The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba will help to secure whatever CMP you need in your country, without any extracharge for our service.
The decision is your, you can deal with Cuba who trafficks its Doctors and keeps 70-90% of their salaries, or,
Hire them directly anbd pay the CMP their full Salary and do the Right and Fair deal .
The Choice is Yours!
“”Prime Minister Gaston Browne strongly defended the Cuban Medical Brigade program” How is that possible when the US has declared Cuba as 1 of 11 countries that practices Human Trafficking at the State level? And it does so with 50+ countries in the world. also anyone involved in contracting Cuban drs under Human Trafficking is subject to US visa revocaytion.
You want to solve the problem: 1) Hire and Pay the Cuban Medical Personal (CMP) directly (without Cubas involvement) at the same rate as any other Doctor in your country. 2) Treat CMP as a free citizen of your country without supervision and control of the Cuban Gestapo. 3)We, The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba will help to secure whatever CMP you need in your country, without any extracharge for our service.
The Choice is Yours!
The decision is your, you can deal with Cuba who trafficks its Doctors and keeps 70-90% of their salaries, or,
Hire them directly anbd pay the CMP their full Salary and do the Right and Fair deal .
The Choice is Yours!
Its time for leaders around the world to come together to stop the US who bestowed upon themselves the title of world police from dictating what sovereign nations can do to assist each other, they have the proven track record of destroying lives and livelihood around the world
Funk the US and their sanctimonious self