Cuba further loosens regulation of private sector

[The Northerner]

(Reuters) - Communist-run Cuba has given all small businesses the authority to hire labor and will loosen other regulations governing private enterprise, the government said in a statement on Monday.

The measure was the latest indication that President Raul Castro's government has decided to loosen its grip on economic sectors that include retail services, construction and transportation in favor of private business.

Last year, the government allowed some types of family businesses and skilled trades to hire workers.

The government said that "the Council of Ministers agreed to extend to all non-state activities authorization to contract workers and continue the process of making more flexible regulations on self employment."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/us-cuba-reform-idUSTRE74G09620110517

[craigmatic]

1. I don't know whether to be happy or sad for this news.

Sure on the surface this seems like a good idea but part of me feels like Cuba is backsliding and may again return to what it was under Batista.

[Mika]

2. Don't be silly.

The article doesn't mention the taxation regulation over this modification of labor contracting. Cuba is not a politically/economically static place. It IS their Revolution underway. It is constant, and consistently working for the benefit of the vast majority of Cubans, by Cubans.

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