By Roberto Morejón

Like every year, close to International Workers' Day, in Cuba citizens are recognized, encouraged and decorated with long dedication of knowledge, skills and dedication to work positions in the production of goods, services, in education, science and the art.

It is a way to highlight in that small group all those who every day exhibit their high commitments to the work carried out in the state, private or cooperative company.

And their contributions are essential in a very difficult situation, when the standard of living in the largest of the Antilles has suffered primarily due to the US blockade and the country's placement on the list that, according to Washington, sponsors terrorism.

With hardly any loans and with doors slammed by banks fearful of dealing with Havana and then being sanctioned, in this Caribbean country the conditions are thorny, which are also shown in the workplace, due to the lack of inputs.

However, the Cuban government outlined a strategy to reactivate the economy and confront what it calls distortions that contribute to increasing the difficulties of citizens.

With a job unemployment rate of 2 percent, the largest of the Antilles promotes, even in the aforementioned disadvantageous context, some initiatives to incorporate as many people as possible into work.

With emphasis on young people and women and even with offers to many vulnerable people who today receive social assistance, the aim is to increase production and complete the workforce, especially in agriculture, the main source of food.

It is true that not a few citizens have gone towards private enterprises, more than 600 thousand earn their living on their own, but not all people capable of doing so have yet been incorporated into employment.

Many argue that salaries have low purchasing power in the midst of an inflationary process that has not yet been stopped, but it is emphasized that the municipalities exploit all potential in order to generate more jobs.

Even in the unfavorable context of the economy, a key point is insisted on: only by working can we advance, a concept expressed by the historical leader Fidel Castro and endowed with great relevance.

Work offers those who exercise it the possibility of growing and developing their abilities, thus satisfying the need for it as a means to life and using it as a cardinal way to express their contribution to society.