Wednesday in Ouanaminthe (Northeast), an area considered as the stronghold of the Head of State, on the initiative of the National Central of Haitian Workers, of Union Association of textile workers for re-export and the "Platfòm Sendikal Izin Tekstil-Batay Ouvriye", several thousand workers of the Industrial Development Company (CODEVI) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21754-haiti-flash-inauguration-of-the-first-chinese-factory-in-haiti.html have demonstrated in the city and more particularly in front of the headquarters of the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI).

The demonstrators were protesting against the measures contained in the 2017-2018 budget https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22212-haiti-flash-full-details-of-the-2017-2018-budget-revenue-and-expenditure.html described as "anti-people", and more particularly on the taxes of 13% (10% for income tax, 1% for the Assistance Fund, 1% for the Emergency Fund and 1% for the Fund of the Territorial Collectivities) which will be taken from October 6th on their salary.

Let's recall that the minimum wage of subcontract workers was set at 350 Gourdes per day (Article 4 segment F https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21679-haiti-flash-minimum-wages-all-details.html or 15 gourdes of increase https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21648-haiti-flash-moise-sets-daily-minimum-wage-at-350-gdes.html for 45 gourdes less in taxes...

Throughout the demonstration, slogans hostile to the Government and against President Moïse were launched by the highly motivated demonstrators demanding the withdrawal of the disputed measures. The police fired into the air to disperse demonstrators and tear gas, 2 demonstrators were arrested by the police near the DGI in a violent confrontation.

10 people were wounded including 2 by bullets during the demonstration day, according to the Codevi Workers' Union (Socoa), which requires an investigation to shed light on these incidents and the excessive use of the force by the police...

The workers threaten to organize other demonstrations if the Government does not return to its decisions, recalling that during the last 13 years no taxes has ever been levied on the meager wages of the workers...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22212-haiti-flash-full-details-of-the-2017-2018-budget-revenue-and-expenditure.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21754-haiti-flash-inauguration-of-the-first-chinese-factory-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21679-haiti-flash-minimum-wages-all-details.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21648-haiti-flash-moise-sets-daily-minimum-wage-at-350-gdes.html

TB/ HaitiLibre