Human Rights Foundation claims exploitation of Cuban medical workers

ALTHOUGH currently in the spotlight owing to a new US policy which threatens to terminate the visas of government officials for hosting Cuban medical missions, the programme has been flagged by several non-governmental organisations and human rights groups in the past for repressive rules and forced labour.

One such group is the New York-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF) which published a report in 2022.

The report found Cuba's medical missions violated several of the practitioners' rights including privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of movement.

As evidence, the report cited from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment's Disciplinary Regulations for Cuban Civilian Workers Serving Abroad as Collaborators (Resolution No 168).

According to the regulations, while workers were on a mission they were prohibited from forming relationships with people whose actions were contrary to the principles of Cuban society, have links to people who have contrary views of the Cuban revolution, living with unauthorised people, having romantic relationships unless reported to supervisors, travel to areas outside of where they are assigned to work among. Read More