In a pre-International Workers’ Day ceremony held on April 30, 2026, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who also serves as a member of the country’s Political Bureau, led an official event honoring 14 exceptional labor collectives under the Palco Business Group with the prestigious National Vanguard flag distinction. The award recognizes the group’s relentless drive to uphold productive output and creative problem-solving, even amid the long-standing, punitive economic blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba. Event organizers framed the group’s consistent commitment to meeting production targets as an act of resilience against external economic pressure, a stance that earned the 14 entities this top national honor.
Among the recognized collectives, three organizations received the National Vanguard flag for the first time in their history: TRANSPAK, the Palco Customs and Freight Forwarding Company; the Central Office of Conex Company; and Palacio de Convenciones UEB. The remaining 11 collectives re-qualified for the honor, reaffirming their long track record of exceptional performance and alignment with national labor priorities.
Beyond recognizing consistent domestic productive excellence, the ceremony also paid special tribute to Palco Business Group workers who were deployed to provide critical services in Venezuela during the unrest that unfolded on January 3 of this year. The emotional tribute highlighted the workers’ unwavering commitment to the core principles of the Cuban Revolution, as well as Cuba’s longstanding tradition of cross-border solidarity with other peoples across the Global South. Photographs captured by Estudios Revolución documented the entire ceremony, capturing moments of tribute and celebration among attending workers and government officials.