Workers' Day celebrates Cuban Social Security System

One reason to celebrate the International Workers' Day today is to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Cuban Social Security System, one of the most just and advanced in the world.

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1 de mayo de 2018 - By Eduardo Gonzáalez

National

One reason to celebrate the International Workers' Day today is to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Cuban Social Security System, one of the most just and advanced in the world.

In 1959 there were 52 social security institutions operating here, called "funds", "retirement funds" or "insurance"; however, they covered less than half of state workers and there was no health insurance. Most of these institutions suffered a financial crisis mainly due, to the misappropriation of their funds by corrupted administrations, which obliged them to reduce the amount of benefits to insignificant amounts
without any real value.

At the triumph of the Revolution, a stage of transformation of social insurance began. Laws like number 1100, issued on March 17, 1963, Social Security Law, guaranteed all workers and their families social
protection during illness, maternity leaves, work injury, occupational disease, old age and death. It did not establish unemployment subsidy, since it was decided to create jobs instead of creating funds to protect the unemployed.

Regarding family benefits, it was considered that the integral protection of the family should be provided within four fundamental aspects: education, health, food and housing, as these are the items of higher expenses in the family budget. This protection is guaranteed by means of free education, including school materials and its extensive scholarship program; through health free services  provided to the entire population, and subsidized food.

The rent of houses was reduced to the half and, subsequently, propitiate their acquisition by the tenants, and thus become them owners. A group of legal norms have been perfecting the Cuban Social Security
System, to adapt it to the development of society. Today the Law 105, issued on December 27, 2008, is in force, which is adapted to the population aging and to the occupational changes the country is
experiencing.

The Cuban Social Security System is, perhaps, the only one in the world that protects the entire population, including self-employed workers, and covers all contingencies, from partial or total disability,
temporary or permanent, to maternity, retirement, and care for dependent family members.

Today, May Day, we'll bel marching to celebrate these and the other conquests of the Revolution, to defend them against the continuing attempts of our enemies to take them away from us.
 

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