A Cuban woman known on TikTok as Ismerai Romero has shared a video revealing her husband's unconventional job as a roving barber, a stark depiction of the survivalist economy that sustains countless families across the island.
In the video, Ismerai unveils the contents of a backpack her husband carries from home to his makeshift workplace: clippers, scissors, combs, razors, a small mirror, hair spray, and machine oil. Essentially, a complete salon setup, all compacted into one bag and perched on a portable chair, which Ismerai herself admits could use an upgrade.
"Come, let me show you how we make a living here in Cuba," she announces at the start of the video, originally posted on June 22.
By the end of the clip, Ismerai poses a reflective question to those who have left the island: "What did you do for a living when you were here in Cuba?" Her personal narrative becomes a shared reflection for the Cuban diaspora.
This video is not an isolated incident. According to an April 2026 survey by Cubadata, a staggering 86.6% of Cubans rely on the informal economy to avoid starvation. The percentage of individuals who can "always" support themselves through independent work dropped from 24.1% in 2024 to 16% in 2026, while those engaging "frequently" in such activities increased from 29.8% to 40.5%.
These statistics illuminate why a backpack filled with barber tools serves as a lifeline: the official average monthly salary in Cuba is about 6,930 pesos, roughly equivalent to just 13 to 16 dollars on the informal exchange market. Meanwhile, meeting basic needs requires about 96,000 pesos monthly, with over 70,000 pesos needed solely for food.
Data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) shows there were more than 831,000 informal workers in Cuba by 2024, making up 20.1% of the workforce, all without access to social security or labor protections.
Mobile barbering has been among the self-employment activities permitted since the 2010 reforms, though many practice without any official license or registration. In June 2026, the regime started permitting street sales of certain goods, implicitly acknowledging the undeniable presence of street-level economies.
The trend of Cubans documenting their day-to-day labor on social media has struck a chord with the diaspora. Videos featuring bicycle couriers, street vendors, or mothers creating businesses from scarce resources have garnered hundreds of thousands of views recently, forming a distinct genre of social commentary on current Cuban life.
Ismerai's video, which has amassed over 20,200 views, is a poignant addition to this collection, with its simplicity underscoring its message: for many Cuban families, a backpack, a chair, and some clippers represent a business, a pension plan, and a safety net all rolled into one.
Understanding Cuba's Informal Economy
What role does the informal economy play in Cuba?
The informal economy is a crucial survival mechanism for many Cubans, with 86.6% relying on it to avert hunger, as formal jobs often pay insufficient wages.
How have recent changes affected informal work in Cuba?
Recent reforms have legalized some street vending, acknowledging the pervasive nature of informal work, yet many still operate without licenses or official recognition.
Why are Cubans turning to social media to document their work?
Social media offers a platform for Cubans to share their everyday struggles and resilience, resonating with the diaspora and shedding light on the island's current socio-economic realities.