More from the BBC on the Cuban economy and the continuing austerity measures, which are apparently successfully cutting energy use without blackouts:
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Meanwhile, Cuban media announced this week that a state decree will allow citizens to hold multiple government jobs for the first time. This is part of the labor overhaul that aims to (1) fill empty jobs as the size of the workforce declines; and (2) allow Cubans to earn wages that are more closely correlated to the amount of work performed.
The Associated Press speculates that it might also be an effort to reduce the size of the black market by creating a sanctioned opportunity for families to earn extra money.