Better Work Haiti: 1st Biannual Synthesis Report

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 labor code, rather than core labor 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.