On Wednesday several hundred workers in the textile sector demonstrated in particular in front of the National Company of Industrial Parks (SONAPI) the main industrial zone of the capital, dedicated mainly to textile manufacturing.

The workers were demanding a 300% increase in the minimum wage (from 500 Gourdes to 1,500 Gourdes) per 8-hour working day in addition to other social benefits, such as transport and food subsidies.

Protesters then erected barricades and blocked the road to the airport. The police had to intervene and use tear gas to disperse the highly motivated protesters and restore public order

Fignolé Saint Cyr, the Secretary General of the Autonomous Center of Haitian Workers (CATH), recalled that the minimum wage in Haiti has not been readjusted since November 1, 2019 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29201-haiti-flash-increase-of-minimum-wage-all-the-details.html and that the law provides for an adjustment each time inflation exceeds 10%, which has been the case for the past two years https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35599-haiti-flash-annual-inflation-246-increase-of-93-over-2-months.html

The workers should demonstrate again this Thursday, to defend better wage conditions, informed the trade unionist.

PI/ HaitiLibre