On Friday, May 2, Cuban workers will be able to enjoy a work break with payment of salary. This was established by Decree 126/2025 of the Council of Ministers, issued on Monday 28 April at the Palace of the Revolution and published as an extraordinary decree the following day in the Official Gazette of the Republic number 15, with the signature of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security is in charge of the complementary normative provisions. This decision recognises the steadfastness of the Cuban people and their capacity for resistance, in the midst of adversities such as the energy situation, to face diverse tasks with great effort.

The provision is based on Article 100 of Law 116 «Labour Code», dated 20 December 2013. This text gives exceptional powers to issue such measures to higher state or government bodies, as well as to the Minister of Labour and Social Security, in compliance with the governmental agreement.

The Council of Ministers adopted the decision in the exercise of its powers under Article 137(o) and (w) of the Constitution of the Republic.

Prior to the day of recess, Cuba will resume its historic parade in Havana’s Revolution Square, as well as in the rest of the country, on May Day, to celebrate International Workers’ Day with additional motivations such as the 25th anniversary of the reading of the concept of Revolution by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

Weeks ago, in the face of enemy campaigns to undermine the celebration, the general secretary of the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba, Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, called for a forceful mobilisation, headed by the Public Health sector, a sector under attack to undermine the country’s sources of financing and raise an unfavourable opinion matrix against this achievement, one of the most valuable of the Revolution.