Since 2009, Better Work Haiti, a Partnership Program between the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group and with different stakeholders at the national level, offers the full range of services designed by the Program at the global level, for factories in the Haitian textile industry.

This range includes an innovative training program specifically designed to engage plant managers individually in identifying compliance issues, and to identify ways to improve compliance, including compliance with international labor standards. Also, this training is available to plant managers to develop skills in how to improve workplace relationships, as well as a comprehensive assessment to determine the overall progress of each plant in terms of compliance to international standards and national labor law. To date, BETTER WORK is focused on the apparel and footwear industry.

Recall that the HOPE Act Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for Encouragement became the HELP Haiti Economic Lift Program Act passed by the US Congress, in effect until 2025 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17643-icihaiti-industry-did-you-know.html , offers the Haitian textile and garment industry customs exemptions on export and also facilitates the establishment of cooperation with the International Labor Office (ILO) for the implementation of the program of technical assistance for evaluation and improvement of compliance with social labor standards (TAICNAR).

The HOPE II law has been successful in attracting the interest of US buyers to source goods from Haiti, increase their production and create jobs in the local market. Currently, more than 53,000 people are employed in the garment sector in Haiti. The total export earnings of the textile and clothing industry in Haiti represent about 90% of national export earnings and 10% of national GDP. The clothing sector comprises 32 exporting factories registered with Better Work (100% of the industry), spread over 7 free zones (CODEVI, Industrial Metropolitan Industrial Park-SONAPI, Caracol-SONAPI Industrial Park, Digneron, The palm trees, SIDSA, Lafito).

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Better Work Haiti aims to improve working conditions in textile enterprises and increase women's empowerment. It helps to reduce the poverty of the workers of these companies and their families. It contributes, thanks to the size of these companies (1/8 of the formal jobs in Haiti), to increase the national income, to promote the inclusive economic growth and to reinforce the social stability.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17643-icihaiti-industry-did-you-know.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12868-haiti-economy-renewal-and-extension-of-the-hope-ii-and-help-acts.html

HL/ HaitiLibre