Financial Crime World

Haiti’s Textile Sector Faces Challenges in Compliance with International Standards

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Revitalization Efforts Hampered by Non-Compliance Issues

Despite efforts to revitalize the textile sector, Haiti’s garment factories are struggling to comply with international labor standards and national working conditions. According to a recent report by Better Work Haiti, 31 participating factories in the country face significant challenges in ensuring compliance with International Labor Standards (ILS) and national working conditions.

Key Findings

  • High non-compliance rates were found for issues related to:
    • Documentation and protection of young workers
    • Gender
    • Coercion
    • Collective bargaining and strikes
    • Safety and health regulations, including firefighting equipment and accessible emergency exits
  • Only 35.5% of factories kept proper maintenance documents for their firefighting equipment

Areas of Non-Compliance

  • Social security benefits: 71% of factories paid annual leave incorrectly
  • Maternity leave: 77.4% of factories were non-compliant
  • No violations found related to:
    • Payment methods
    • Minimum wage payments
    • Overtime payments
    • Unauthorized deductions from workers’ wages

Report Highlights Root Causes of Non-Compliances

The report presents a table detailing the root causes of non-compliances, allowing for better understanding of enterprise performance and comparing non-compliance rates.

Better Work Haiti’s Efforts to Address Challenges

  • Collaboration with industry stakeholders to address challenges and increase productivity through international buyers
  • Operation in a hybrid mode, utilizing both virtual and in-person approaches to deliver services under the Hope II law
  • Enhanced collaboration with labor inspectors from MAST, facilitating delivery of assessments and advisory services
  • Virtual assessments conducted due to security concerns in Port-au-Prince, while more in-person activities took place in the northeast region

Positive Developments

  • Recent decree removing the obligation to pay lunch breaks expected to reduce non-compliance rates
  • Better Work Haiti remains committed to supporting the industry in achieving better working conditions for workers in Haiti’s textile sector