"Just Two Days of Work Equals a Month's Salary"... Where Young Cubans Are Flocking After Abandoning Their Livelihoods

Just Two Days' Work Means a Month’s Pay

High Returns Draw Young People to Gold Mining

Villages Suffer from Illegal Gold Mining

Rising Crime, Mounting Environmental Concerns

Amid chronic economic hardship and U.S. sanctions, Cuban residents, struggling to make ends meet, are turning to illegal gold mining in a bid to earn money, despite the activity being prohibited by law.

Illegal Gold Mining. Yonhap News

"Two Days of Mining Equals a Month's Salary"...Young People Abandon Their Livelihoods to Seek Gold

According to Spanish-language media outlet Infobae and other foreign news services on September 10 (local time), illegal gold mining is rapidly spreading in eastern rural regions of Cuba, including Camagüey, Las Tunas, and Ciego de Ávila.

Under Cuban law, gold is managed as a national strategic resource, and only state-owned or foreign companies with government authorization can mine it. However, many residents who have lost their sources of income are increasingly turning to unauthorized mining.

The main reason residents are engaging in illegal mining is its high profitability. On the local market, 1 gram of refined gold trades for at least 60,000 Cuban pesos (approximately 110,000 won). Even on unlucky days when daily income remains at the 3,000-peso level, the money made far exceeds the typical wages earned by Cuban workers.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics and Information of Cuba, the official average monthly wage last year was 6,930 pesos. With illegal mining, it takes only two days of work to easily earn more than a month's salary.

Jesus, a local miner, said, "It doesn't have to be a big gold nugget. Even stones with traces of gold or low-quality gold dust are enough to make good money."

Because such high returns are possible, even young people who used to raise livestock in the area are abandoning their previous livelihoods and turning to illegal gold mining.

The photo is unrelated to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

With the Spread of Illegal Gold Mining, Public Order Deteriorates and Environmental Contamination Raises Alarm

The rapid proliferation of illegal gold mining is resulting in side effects. Above all, public safety has deteriorated. Disputes for control over profits have emerged in remote areas difficult for police to access, armed private security forces have appeared, and violence and crime are occurring throughout villages.

Those engaged in illegal mining, by the very nature of their activities, find it difficult to seek help from the police. As a result, they often become targets for theft or robbery, leading local residents to take turns guarding the mines themselves.

Eloisa Rivero, a resident of Guáimaro, said, "Our town is now full of outsiders, and some people start to drink as soon as they get money, causing problems. Fights and reckless motorcycle riding have become everyday occurrences, yet the police are turning a blind eye."

There are also increasing concerns about environmental pollution. During illegal mining, miners wash gold-laden soil and rocks in water, then separate the gold using mercury. Mercury is highly toxic and could contaminate soil and water sources if it is released into the environment.

Cuban authorities have launched large-scale crackdowns, arresting hundreds of people and confiscating equipment, but illegal mining has shown no signs of disappearing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.