(2026-03) Better Work Haiti: 29th Compliance Synthesis Report
Summary — This report covers the Haitian garment sector's compliance with labor standards from January to December 2025. It highlights persistent economic and security pressures, the expiration and temporary extension of HOPE II trade preferences, and the significant decline in employment. Despite resource cuts, Better Work Haiti conducted assessments and advisory visits, focusing on social dialogue and institutional anchoring.
Key Findings
- Persistent structural non-compliance in compensation, especially incorrect calculations for paid leave and social security contributions, affects 75-80% of factories.
- High prevalence of occupational safety and health (OSH) gaps, particularly in emergency preparedness, with 95% of factories non-compliant in at least one area.
- The expiration of HOPE II trade preferences in September 2025 caused immediate disruption, leading to reduced production and job losses, though a one-year extension was granted.
- Better Work Haiti shifted its strategy towards institutional anchoring, strengthening coordination among government bodies and promoting social dialogue to manage disputes.
- Factory closures in 2025, affecting thousands of workers, highlighted the need for responsible enterprise exit protocols and coordinated efforts to secure severance payments.
Full Description
This 29th Compliance Synthesis Report details the state of labor compliance in Haiti's garment sector from January to December 2025, a period marked by severe economic and security challenges. The sector experienced a significant decline in employment, from 60,000 workers in 2021 to approximately 21,575 by the end of 2025, exacerbated by political instability and gang violence. The expiration of the HOPE II trade preferences in September 2025 caused immediate disruption, though a one-year extension was approved in early 2026, providing short-term stabilization.
Better Work Haiti, despite financial and staffing cuts, fulfilled its mandate by conducting 20 factory assessments and 68 advisory visits. Key findings reveal persistent structural non-compliance in compensation (especially incorrect calculations for paid leave and social security contributions) and high prevalence of occupational safety and health (OSH) gaps, particularly in emergency preparedness. The report emphasizes a strategic shift towards institutional anchoring, strengthening coordination among government bodies, supporting responsible enterprise transitions during factory closures, and promoting social dialogue to manage disputes and protect workers' rights.