BetterWork: Garment Industry 12th Biannual Synthesis Report Under the HOPE II Legislation
Summary — This is the twelfth biannual synthesis report produced by Better Work Haiti under the HOPE II legislation. It provides an overview of working conditions in 25 factories in Haiti's garment industry between March 2015 and February 2016, based on compliance assessments, advisory services, and training.
Key Findings
- Child labor is virtually non-existent in the apparel sector in Haiti.
- Non-compliance persists in social security and other benefits, particularly related to maternity and health insurance.
- Factories often fail to pay workers correctly during sick leave and maternity leave, calculating payments based on the minimum wage rather than the average wage.
- Occupational Safety and Health remains the Cluster with the highest percentages of non-compliance, especially concerning chemicals, emergency preparedness, and welfare facilities.
- Temperature and ventilation levels in the workplace are frequently too high, and lighting is often inadequate.
Full Description
This report, the twelfth biannual synthesis report produced by Better Work Haiti, examines working conditions in 25 garment factories in Haiti between March 2015 and February 2016. Better Work Haiti, a partnership between the ILO and IFC, aims to improve working conditions and competitiveness in the apparel industry by promoting respect for the Haitian labor code and ILO principles. The report details findings from compliance assessments, advisory services, and training programs provided to participating factories. It covers core labor standards, including child labor, discrimination, forced labor, and freedom of association, as well as working conditions related to compensation, contracts, occupational safety and health, and working time. The report also outlines the priorities of the Better Work Haiti program and the efforts made by factories to address compliance needs.