Haiti: Gov’t urged to intervene in crippling textile garment strikes

Several textile companies have written to the Haitian Government asking it to intervene in the ongoing labor dispute, which they say have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars.

In their letter to Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, the companies, including Astro Carton d’Haïti SA; The Willbes Haitian SA; Pacific Sports Haïti SA; and Textile Youm Kwang SA, claim that the numerous demonstrations and illegal strikes in the textile sector have paralysed their operations since mid-May.

The companies claim that the workers are demanding salary increases of more than 200 percent.

“We are making a formal request to end these problems that have an impact on our industry and our investments in Haiti. If, in the future, these demonstrations are not contained, we will be forced to look for alternative business alternatives in search of stability,” the companies said in their letter.
They said that cost competitiveness, quality of production and the proximity with the United States are the reasons why we chose Haiti, by focusing on significant improvements in wage predictability and political stability.

“If these benefits cease to exist, we will have to make other strategic arrangements and leave Haiti to move to other regions where there is a real willingness on the part of governments to promote investment and defend investors, and protecting decent jobs,” they warned.

Unions representing garment workers here had earlier this month given the authorities a one-week truce to meet their demands.
Secretary general of the Centrale Autonome des Travailleurs Haïtiens (CATH), Fignolé Saint Cyr, said that if the unions’ demands for an adjustment to the minimum wage of 300 gourdes (US$3.00) other benefits including food, transport and insurance are not met, workers will resume their industrial action.

The workers at factories making T-shirts, pants and other apparel are demanding 800 Haitian gourdes (US$8.00) per 8 hour workday.

But Yanick Etienne of the Trade Union Association “Batay Ouvriye” said that the unions are maintaining the positions and would continue to a minimum wage of 800 gourdes (US$8.00).
The Association of Industries of Haiti has criticized the position taken by the unions, claiming that the work stoppage is being led by “militants and syndicalists”. -(CMC)