HAVANA (Reuters) - There may soon be no such thing as a free lunch, even in Cuba where the communist-run government began an experiment on Thursday to close state-run lunchrooms and give workers money to buy their own meals.
Lunchrooms were closed at four government ministries in a trial that, if successful, could be extended to the rest of the state's 24,700 lunchrooms across the country. About 3.5 million lunches have been served daily by the state.
Instead of receiving lunch, the ministry workers will get a daily stipend of 15 pesos, the equivalent of about 70 U.S. cents.
The government has said it is spending more than $350 million (220 million pounds) a year on the free lunches, which it can ill afford in the midst of a global recession that has hit Cuba hard.
The closings are aimed at ending one of a variety of state subsidies Cubans have received for years, but that President Raul Castro says are draining the economy.
There are subsidies that "are ineffective or, even worse, make some feel that they don't need to work," Castro said in a speech in August to the Cuban parliament.
While some workers said it was a necessary step, others complained about the change as they joined most of the rest of the working world in having to fend for themselves at lunchtime.
"Some people prefer the lunch, others the money. There are always people who don't go along, but it's not a big deal," said Arlen Morales, a labour union member, as he began his lunch of vegetable salad and a hot dog.
Ministry of Economy and Planning employee Digna Rodriguez was less enthusiastic.
"I brought bread and a soft drink. We're going to miss the lunch a lot," she said. "There are those who say yes, they agree. Others say it's one worry more for the worker."
The government hopes that in addition to cutting costs, lunchroom closings will reduce theft of costly food imports and put a bite in Cuba's vast black market.
It believes that 20 percent of imported goods destined for lunchrooms are stolen either for personal consumption or private sale. Workplace theft is common in Cuba, where it is viewed as a way to supplement salaries averaging less than $20 a month.
Cuba imports about 70 percent of its food, which combined with reduced export income from the global recession, has depleted the country's cash reserves.
Raul Rodriguez, an official in the Ministry of Economy and Planning, said the decision to end free lunches was logical.
"The situation is very difficult and the country cannot continue giving these handouts," he said.
(Editing by Jeff Franks and Peter Cooney)
