Cuban Labor Minister Resigns After Homelessness Denial

Cuba's Minister of Labour and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, resigned after widespread public and official backlash to her denial of homelessness and claims that beggars are simply pretending. Her remarks during a live parliamentary session were condemned by citizens, intellectuals, and government officials, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who acknowledged real and growing poverty in Cuba and called for empathy. The controversy erupted amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades, with severe shortages and rampant inflation pushing more people, particularly the elderly, into begging or scavenging. Social media and public outcry demanded accountability, highlighting frustration with the government's handling of economic and social hardships. Feitó's resignation illustrates increasing pressure on authorities to address visible social vulnerabilities. Despite public admissions of the crisis, concrete measures to alleviate suffering remain scarce.