Havana, November 2 (RHC)The Cuban government announced new measures on Saturday aimed at keeping order, discipline and legality in the self-employment sector, which has significantly expanded since October 2010.

Over the past three years , the number of self-employees increased to over 442 thousand up from 157 thousand affirming the viability of this employment modality in generating jobs and as a source of goods and services for the people, the announcement published o Granma newspaper explains.

Several regulations were published on the Official Gazette on September 26 announcing the granting of new licenses for 18 additional self-employment activities and regulating others, which contributes to prevent indiscipline and illegalities in that sector.

But in an effort to make it even clear for self-employees, the announcement reads, public officials have informed those workers about the content and scope of their activities. This way, they have corroborated the illegal commercialization of imported goods or the resale of others purchased at the state shopping network.

The Executive Committee of the Cuban Council of Ministers established December 31, 2013 as deadline for those who are working as dressmakers or tailors and vendors of domestic items to clean their inventories that include the aforementioned products.

The announcement also explains that 3D movie and computer game halls have never been authorized in the self-employment sector. However, these activities are being developed as main service or associated to other activities, such as gastronomic service. Such modalities must be immediately concluded, the announcement stresses.

Cuban authorities said that these measures are necessary corrections to keep ordering self-employment activity, to fight impunity, maintain legality and protect self-employees, whose large majority abide by established regulations.

The announcement explains that these measures do not imply a step backwards, since the update of the Cuban economic model will continue to advance.