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本文由律咖网社群读者 Lvhuangzishu 投稿分享。
为了方便大家阅读，律咖网编辑 JingJing（微信：lvga2015）对原文进行了细致的逻辑润色与合规性整理。希望能给正在 古巴 创业路上的你带来真实的参考。

I never thought I’d be writing about resignation agreements in Pinar del Río.

I’m from Donghai, Jiangsu. Studied Korean at Liaoning University of Petroleum. Now I run a small cosmetics factory in Cuba—mostly exporting to Latin America. We’re not big. Maybe 12 people. Last year, we were approached by a buyer. Now, we’re winding down. And that’s when things got… quiet.

Not because of sales. Not because of politics. But because of paperwork.

Specifically: the acuerdo de finalización de relación laboral—the employee resignation agreement.

It started with one worker. A 58-year-old man who’d been with us since day one. He didn’t want to leave. But he couldn’t afford to stay. His pension was paid in Cuban pesos. The exchange rate? It moved like a turtle on a power outage day. He asked if he could resign, take his severance, and try his luck with a small paladar in town.

I said yes.

Then I realized: I had no idea how long this would take.

The Invisible Process

In China or even Vietnam, a resignation letter, a signature, a bank transfer—done in a week.

Here?

There is no standard form. No online portal. No HR department you can email.

The acuerdo de finalización de relación laboral is not a document you download. It’s a process you negotiate—with the Ministerio del Trabajo y Seguridad Social, with the local Oficina de la Administración del Trabajo, and sometimes, with your own conscience.

I learned this the hard way.

I drafted a simple agreement: severance pay, acknowledgment of service, mutual release. I printed two copies. I brought them to the Oficina in Pinar del Río. The clerk looked at it. Said nothing. Took it. Said, “Regrese en tres días.”

I came back.

She handed it back. Said: “Falta la firma del sindicato.”

I didn’t even know we had a union.

Turns out, every enterprise in Cuba, even private ones, must recognize a sindicato de empresa. It’s not a union in the Western sense. It’s a state-appointed body. Their job isn’t to fight for wages. It’s to confirm the process is “in the interest of social stability.”

So I had to find the local sindicato.

I drove 20 kilometers to a crumbling building near the old tobacco warehouse. The secretary was a woman in her 60s, sipping coffee from a chipped mug. She asked:

“¿Por qué se va?”

I said: “Porque es su decisión.”

She nodded. Took the papers. Said: “Vuelva mañana.”

I came back.

She stamped both copies. Gave me one. Said: “Ahora, vaya a la oficina de la seguridad social.”

I went.

They asked for his carnet de identidad, his libreta de trabajo, and proof he’d received his severance in CUP.

I had all of it.

They said: “No hay problema. Pero no lo procesamos hasta que la red esté encendida.”

The power was out.

Again.

The Time Cost of Bureaucracy

I used to think time was money.

Here, time is electricity.

If the lights are on, you can submit.

If they’re off? You wait.

I spent three weeks on this one agreement.

I didn’t sleep less. I just… moved slower.

I started to notice things.

The clerk at the Oficina always smiled. Always offered me a glass of water. She never rushed me.

The union secretary asked about my kids.

The social security officer, a man in his 50s, told me his daughter was studying medicine in Havana—on a state scholarship.

We weren’t just filing paperwork. We were sharing stories.

I realized: in a country where the state still owns everything, the human connection is the system.

You don’t “get it done.” You earn the process.

I thought I was here to close a factory.

Turns out, I was learning how to be a good neighbor.

What I Wish I’d Known

  1. There’s no fixed timeline.

    • Typically, it takes 10–20 business days. But only if the power is on.
    • If there’s a blackout, or a fuel shortage, or a national holiday—it resets.
    • Always assume double your estimated time.

  2. The union is not optional.

    • Even if your business is private, the sindicato must sign.
    • Don’t assume they’re adversarial. They’re often just as trapped in the system as you.
    • Bring coffee. Bring snacks. Ask about their family.

  3. Payment must be in Cuban pesos (CUP).

    • Foreign currency payments are flagged.
    • Even if you pay in USD, the system requires you to convert and record it as CUP.
    • Keep receipts. Even handwritten ones.

  4. Keep two physical copies.

    • One for the employee.
    • One for the Oficina de la Administración del Trabajo.
    • No digital copies are accepted.

  5. Don’t assume consistency.

    • What worked in Havana? Doesn’t mean it works in Pinar del Río.
    • What worked last month? Might not work this week.
    • Ask locally. Always.

FAQ

Q: Can I use a template from another country?
A: You can try. But the Oficina will likely reject it. There is no official template. Most people use a handwritten agreement drafted by the employee and employer, then signed by the sindicato. The key elements are: name, ID, job title, start/end date, severance amount (in CUP), and mutual release.

Q: Do I need a lawyer?
A: Not legally required. But if you’re unsure about the severance calculation—especially with years of service—it’s worth consulting a abogado laboral locally. Prices vary. Some charge 500–1000 CUP. Others, like the one I used, just asked for a bottle of rum.

Q: What if the employee refuses to sign?
A: That’s rare. But if they do, the sindicato can mediate. The state doesn’t force people to resign. But if they leave without signing, they lose access to future social benefits. Most understand this.

Final Thoughts

I’m not here to sell you a solution.

I’m here because I sat in a dark room, waiting for the lights to come back on, wondering if I was doing this right.

I thought I was managing an exit.

I was learning how to leave with dignity.

In a country where the state controls the grid, the currency, the schools, and the unions—it’s the quiet, stubborn kindness of people that keeps things moving.

I’ll miss this place.

Not because it’s easy.

But because it’s real.

💡 如果你也在古巴处理员工离职、合同续签、居留变更，或者只是想听听另一个中国创业者怎么熬过停电时的文书工作——
我前几天和编辑 JingJing 聊起这件事，她建议：如果你愿意，可以加她微信 lvga2015。
她不卖服务，不承诺结果。但她会和你一起，一条一条地梳理那些没人告诉你的细节。

比如：

  • 哪个办公室的打印机最近能用？
  • 哪个 sindicato 的人喜欢喝茶？
  • 哪天停电最短？

我们不是在解决问题。
我们只是在互相提醒：别忘了，人还在。

延伸阅读

🔸 Cuba : face à la grave crise économique, le Parti communiste approuve un train de réformes vers plus d’économie de marché 🗞️ 来源: sudouest – 📅 2026-06-18
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🔸 Cuba lance des réformes qui ouvrent davantage l’économie au secteur privé 🗞️ 来源: lemonde – 📅 2026-06-18
🔗 阅读原文

🔸 Cuba places drastic restrictions on public transport 🗞️ 来源: bangkokpost – 📅 2026-06-18
🔗 阅读原文

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