Spain explains hiring practices in Havana to Congress

The Spanish government said Cuban law prevents it from hiring local staff directly for its Consulate in Havana and requires it to use a state employment agency. The government presented that position to Spain’s Congress of Deputies and said it has used the system since 2017.

Spain awarded the Palco Business Group two contracts totaling €1,374,039.16 to provide workers for the Consulate General and the Embassy in Havana. Each procurement process received only one bid, and neither included a reduction from the initial budget.

The larger contract, worth €1,131,295.68, covers the Consulate General and was awarded on December 12, 2024, under file 2024SWs00114. The Embassy contract, worth €242,743.48, was awarded on December 10 of that year under file 2024SWs00113. The source notes that the awarded amounts do not necessarily mean that all the funds have been disbursed.

The parliamentary response, dated September 23, 2026, cited Decree-Law 384 of 2019 as the basis for the requirement. On October 2, 2026, Cuba published Decree-Law 137/2026, which repealed that measure. The material says the new regulations maintained the requirement for consulates.