HAVANA, Cuba.- The number of self-employed workers grew to 362,355 in 2011, doubling up the figure registered in 2010, according to the Cuban Ministry of Work and Social Security (MTSS).

A press release recently issued by MTSS says 157,371 people were involved in this form of employment when the process of expanding and making self-employment more flexible began in October of 2010.

According to the report, 65 percent of the people involved in this sector are from the provinces of Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Camagüey, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.

The largest number of licenses has been granted for the preparation and selling of food and hiring employees mostly (75%) for food service facilities. Next in the list are permits for providing transportation services and room or house renting.

Of all self-employed workers, 66 percent work exclusively in private businesses, 16 percent are retired people and the rest maintain their job with state enterprises, reads the MTSS report.

In December, 2011, the vice president of the Parliament’s Commission on
Economic Affairs, Jose Barreiro, told deputies that requests for licenses to practice any form of private activity is on the rise.

He announced that for 2012 greater stability is expected to guarantee the supplies needed by the sector; while prospects for the introduction of new products are under study.