Political prisoner Marcos de la Luz Caballero Granados has raised alarm over unpaid work, claiming he has been engaged in agricultural labor for more than five months at Prison Camp No. 16, situated near the El Pitirre penitentiary in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, without receiving any wages.
Caballero Granados made these claims in a phone call on October 7, as reported by CubaNet in an article published this past Wednesday, authored by journalist Gladys Linares.
Unpaid Labor and Poor Conditions
Transferred to Camp 16 on March 26, 2026, from Los Caneyes Camp in Villa Clara, Caballero Granados has been working as an agricultural laborer since April 21. His duties involve cultivating bananas, beans, cucumbers, yucca, and avocados, working from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. without breaks.
He reported that the expected salary for the first two months was a little over 2,000 Cuban pesos, increasing to about 3,000 pesos monthly. However, he claims to have not received any compensation since starting at this facility. There is no independent verification of his claims or an official response.
Repercussions and Living Conditions
Caballero Granados emphasized that nearly all inmates face similar wage issues. He warned that refusing to work results in punishments such as losing monthly passes, being transferred to sections with prevalent drug problems, or even being subjected to stricter regimes.
Regarding food provisions, Caballero Granados described a lunch consisting of approximately 80 grams of rice with a mixture resembling flour and water, and diluted jam as a beverage. He noted that sometimes food arrives spoiled, causing stomach issues, which the military attributes to a virus.
Protests and Historical Context
The prisoner previously protested on August 6, 2026, by declaring a hunger strike to oppose the denial of parole and the conditions at the camp, according to his mother, Rosa Granados Linares.
Detained on February 11, 2020, at 19 years old, Caballero Granados was accused of anti-government graffiti demanding "milk for the children." He was sentenced to 10 years for "continuous enemy propaganda" and "continuous contempt." His case is documented by Prisoners Defenders, a Madrid-based NGO advocating for politically imprisoned individuals.
In September 2026, the Cuban Prisons Documentation Center recorded 79 rights violations in Cuban prisons, including 19 instances of inadequate food, framing the conditions described by Caballero Granados at Camp 16.
FAQs on Political Prisoners and Labor Conditions in Cuba
What is the current situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
Political prisoners in Cuba often face harsh conditions, including forced labor without pay, inadequate food, and poor living conditions. Reports of rights violations are common, as documented by organizations like Prisoners Defenders.
How are Cuban prison conditions affecting inmates' health?
Inmates in Cuban prisons frequently deal with insufficient nutrition and unsanitary conditions, leading to health issues such as stomach ailments. The military often attributes these problems to viral infections, though the true causes are debated.