(2010-07) Better Work Haiti: 1st Biannual Synthesis Report
Summary — This report presents the baseline findings of Better Work Haiti's assessments in 21 garment factories between October and December 2009. It identifies widespread non-compliance in working conditions, particularly in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Working Time, while core labor standards show fewer violations. The report serves as a baseline for future compliance monitoring and improvement efforts in the Haitian garment industry.
Key Findings
- Most non-compliance in the Haitian garment industry relates to working conditions, not core labour standards.
- No non-compliance findings concerning child labour were observed in the assessed factories.
- Significant non-compliance was found in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) across all factories, particularly in worker protection, health services, and chemical handling.
- All factories showed non-compliance in regular working hours, and 19 out of 21 factories were non-compliant regarding overtime.
- Discrimination in recruitment materials and restricted access for union representatives were noted in a third and nearly half of the factories, respectively.
Full Description
This document, the first compliance synthesis report by Better Work Haiti, details the findings from assessments conducted in 21 garment factories between October and December 2009. Covering 22,172 workers, representing a significant portion of the national garment industry, the report highlights that most non-compliance issues are concentrated in working conditions related to the Haitian labour code, rather than core labour standards. Key areas of non-compliance include Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regarding chemicals, worker protection, health services, welfare facilities, emergency preparedness, and working time issues such as regular hours and overtime. While child labor was not found, issues like restricted worker movement (forced labor), discrimination in recruitment, and limited union access were noted in some factories. The report also acknowledges delays due to the January 2010 earthquake and sets the baseline for future HOPE II compliance reports.
Better Work Haiti, a partnership between the ILO and IFC, aims to improve decent work opportunities and industry competitiveness by enhancing compliance with labor laws. Following these baseline assessments, advisory services and remediation activities have begun, focusing initially on universal non-compliance areas like OSH. The program plans to form Performance Improvement Consultative Committees and deploy enterprise advisors to institutionalize compliance improvements, contributing to Haiti's post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.