Earlier this week, several Haitian unions gathered to defend the application of a minimum level of social protection in Haiti. A Union road map, for the reconstruction and the development of Haiti, was developed in collaboration with Trade Union Confederation of Workers of the Americas (CSA-TUCA) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the participants of the event have insisted on the need for social dialogue in the reconstruction, To this end, unions have reached a consensus with the Association of Industry of Haiti (ADIH) on the protection and social security.

During the electoral campaign, Michel Martelly had stressed the need to strengthen the social protection system. For this reason, unions are asking to the new government, to keep its promise and to define in priority, a floor of social protection and its implementing rules.

The union delegates have noted that the current aid agencies have serious shortcomings. Citing as examples, the database of the Office National Old Age Insurance (ONA) that is not computerized. They denounced the concentration of services in the capital, and stressed the urgent need for decentralization.

Another point concerning the maternity insurance, which covers only formal workers has been debated. The delegates, have recalled that over 90% of the workforce in the country work in the informal economy, thus, the vast majority of the population does not have access to some form of protection.

For the unions, implementing a basic social security is linked the implementation of the agenda of decent work. Therefore, the union movement is supporting a major campaign which will be led on the creation of decent jobs.

During the event, union representatives have called on the international community to contribute to the financing of the base of social protection in Haiti. According to unions, funds are available and should be assigned to the issues of decent work, base of the social protection.

According to Isabelle Hoferlin, representative of the CSI, this two-day union meeting has yielded positive results: "There are trade union experts on social protection in each syndicale organisation, their capacity will be strengthened with the support of the CSI and CSA. The next step is to identify the needs and make proposals of negotiation."

HL/ HaitiLibre