Cuba cuts prices of foods after complaints from state workers

Cuba is cutting the prices of some basic foods by 20% following complaints that many staples including rice and cooking oil are too expensive for the communist state's poorly-paid workers.

The reductions from Friday address widespread complaints that state employees earning about $25 a month cannot afford the products.

In an announcement on the state-run nightly news, the communist government said prices of goods like chicken and cooking oil would be cut in stores that accepted the convertible peso, a currency equivalent to the dollar.

But those goods still remain out of reach for many Cubans - a litre of soya oil still costs nearly a tenth of their monthly salary.

Prices of staples such as rice and beans available in Cuban pesos, worth four cents each, will also drop.