The program fell from 24,000 workers at the beginning of 2025 to between 15,000 and 18,000 during 2026.
On Thursday, the U.S. State Department admitted that diplomatic pressure on Cuba has contributed to a significant reduction in its labor missions abroad.
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According to the report, visa restrictions and international complaints promoted by Washington led to a decrease in both the number of workers sent abroad and the number of countries receiving these Cuban missions.
The State Department maintains that the number of workers involved in these programs fell from approximately 24,000 at the beginning of 2025 to between 15,000 and 18,000 during 2026. This represents an estimated reduction of between 25% and 37.5%.
The Cuban labor missions, comprised mainly of healthcare personnel, constitute a source of foreign currency for Havana. Washington asserts that healthcare professionals represent about 75% of this exported workforce.
U.S. politicians call Cuba’s medical missions “forced labor,” without providing evidence to back the claim. Listen to Cuban doctors in Italy’s Southern region of Calabria respond to U.S. accusations in our latest film, “From Cuba to Calabria.” https://t.co/gEATUnWkA5 pic.twitter.com/nTRpmM9jCI
— Belly of the Beast (@bellybeastcuba) June 22, 2026
The reduction in these missions also coincides with political changes in several Latin American and Caribbean countries. In recent years, governments in the region have canceled medical cooperation programs that had been operating for decades.
In April, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights denounced alleged irregularities in these programs, including salary withholdings and the confiscation of passports. The Commission warned that some cases could be equated to “forced labor” or “human trafficking.”
The Cuban government rejects these accusations and maintains that participation in the missions is voluntary and paid. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs defends these programs as an expression of international solidarity and cooperation, especially in countries with healthcare needs.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | In Cuba, over a million students return to school, marking an achievement for the nation’s education system amid ongoing United States aggression. pic.twitter.com/oMCCt8jRPD
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 4, 2026
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Source: EFE
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