This Tuesday, a Cuban named Dqva Jaime took to Facebook to voice a complaint against a private enterprise, labeling the private sector as the "number one enemy of socialism" after discovering that the business refuses to accept bank transfers for bread purchases, thus violating current regulations.
Jaime recounted purchasing two packages of bread from a sales point of OnBazar—a location that previously housed a mattress factory and later an aluminum carpentry shop—where the establishment rejected the option of online payment for that product. For other items, the private enterprise sets a cap of 2,000 Cuban pesos per transfer, although it increasingly claims not to accept this payment method at all.
"As long as these scoundrels continue doing whatever they please and the authorities look the other way—or, at best, make appeals to the conscience of these scoundrels to accept online payments, something the government mandated by law as obligatory for all economic actors," wrote Jaime, concluding that the owners of such businesses are "capitalists" with "the mindset of an exploiter."
The reported behavior would violate Resolution 111/2023 from the Central Bank of Cuba, in effect since August 2023, which mandates that all economic actors—state-owned, private enterprises, and self-employed individuals—accept electronic payments without restrictions. Despite over 8,000 inspections and 476 business closures reported in provinces like Sancti Spíritus, less than 10% of private businesses regularly accept transfers. Official media admitted in July 2026 the failure of the banking policy.
The post sparked a heated debate. Several users supported the criticism and demanded the government enforce the law, while others argued that the root of the problem lies with the State itself, which pays salaries on cards but fails to ensure access to cash, and wholesale suppliers also refuse transfers, creating a vicious cycle forcing private businesses to operate in cash.
"The fault doesn't lie with private enterprises; it's with the government at all levels that doesn't have the guts to confront them and put them in their place," commented one individual.
Another critic went further, stating, "If the Government permits and supports what goes against socialism, it's because the Government itself is anti-socialist. This Government is counter-revolutionary and pro-capitalist, and it's time to acknowledge it as such."
On the other hand, a user sarcastically responded, "The number one enemy is actually socialism. It's what keeps you in misery."
There were also practical reactions. One commentator shared a WhatsApp channel with over 10,000 followers that maps businesses accepting transfers in Cuba as an alternative to official inaction. Another reported attempting to file a complaint with authorities in the municipality of Caimito, Artemisa province, but was required to provide the exact address of each establishment to process the complaint, despite claiming the non-compliance is widespread.
The controversy arises during a period of increasing ideological tension surrounding the private sector. In June 2026, the National Assembly approved a package of 176 economic measures that removes the cap of 100 employees per private enterprise and allows one person to own more than one private company, stirring opposition among regime supporters who see it as a deepening of capitalism. "Then they wonder why we distrust the 176 measures that are even more radical towards privatization," warned one commenter.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Tensions
What is Resolution 111/2023?
Resolution 111/2023, issued by the Central Bank of Cuba, mandates that all economic actors, including state-owned enterprises, private businesses, and self-employed individuals, must accept electronic payments without restrictions.
Why are private businesses in Cuba reluctant to accept bank transfers?
Private businesses in Cuba are often reluctant to accept bank transfers due to a lack of access to cash and the refusal of wholesale suppliers to accept electronic payments, creating a cycle that forces them to operate mainly in cash.
What are the implications of the 176 economic measures approved in 2026?
The 176 economic measures approved in 2026 by the National Assembly lift the restriction of employing more than 100 workers per private business and allow individuals to own multiple private companies, which many see as a shift towards more capitalist practices.