Cuba: Private taxi drivers hold ten-day nationwide strike Dec. 7

Event

Private taxi drivers plan to hold a ten-day nationwide strike starting from Friday, December 7, to denounce recent government regulations on the private sector. Taxi drivers also reportedly intend to stage a protest outside the Capitol Building located in the capital Havana on December 7. A heightened security presence and traffic disruptions near the protest site are likely should the demonstration proceed.

Context

Havana suffers from a deficient public transport system and as such heavily relies on its private taxis float. However, in July, the government announced a series of new regulations on the private sector - including for taxis drivers - that are expected to come into effect on December 7. These new measures compel drivers to purchase a minimum amount of fuel from state-owned gas stations, to implement fix prices, and impose higher taxes, which has raised concerns among drivers that their activity will cease to be profitable.

On December 6, the government announced its plan to import hundreds of microbuses and buses to alleviate the public transport shortage in Havana.

Advice

Individuals in Cuba, notably in Havana, are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests as a precaution, plan alternative routes around the protests, and allow additional time to travel. Furthermore, individuals are advised to seek alternative mode of transportation during the strike.