HAVANA.- More than 60 percent of self-employed workers in Cuba have received training on the new regulations for the reorganization of this activity, whose measures will enter into force on December 7.

Since the rules were published in the Official Gazette last July, an extensive preparation process was carried out that included seminars and access to specialized advice and documentation, reported Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security.

The official added that as part of this process were also trained about 25 officials and leaders, responsible for monitoring and implementing the regulations, which respond to requests made by workers, the population and the results of diagnoses of existing experiences.

At present, 593,664 people in Cuba carry out this activity, which represents 13 percent of the country's working force and five percent of tax revenues, mainly in the territories, which shows the impact of this form of management on the national economy.

The will of the Cuban State is to advance in self-employment, whose existence is endorsed in the governing documents of the country's economic model, on the basis of order and legality, said the head of Labor and Social Security.

Among the main measures that come into effect in December is the grouping of the figures authorized to reach the figure of 123, which does not constitute an elimination but a compactation of modalities that will allow greater comprehensiveness of licensees.

The set of approved regulations includes the appearance of new figures, greater specificity in the causes of suspension, the possibility of keeping the license operational despite the temporary absence of the holder, and the extension of the service of room and housing tenants to legal persons.

In addition, the scope and requirements for new license applications are specified, with the inclusion of a project on the activity to be carried out; the restriction of the number of activities to be carried out; the regulation of transportation; and the strengthening of control structures.

The Cuban Television program also explained the tax adjustments derived from the reordering process, which are aimed at consolidating tax contributions to the State budget, increasing tax culture and control measures.

As a result of a diagnosis, indisciplines and evasive behaviors were detected, hence the new provisions point to measures to achieve greater transparency, such as the obligatory nature of fiscal bank accounts for six modalities of self-employment and modifications for telecommunications agents and private transporters.