The International Labour Organization's (ILO) 2026 Report paints an alarming picture : Haiti is no longer respecting its international obligations regarding labour rights. Between a lack of reporting, child labor, and a labor crisis, the country is sinking into an unprecedented crisis of social governance.

The Report underscores the urgent need for a new institutional approach for Haiti. Under Article 19 of the ILO Constitution, each member state must report on the implementation of international conventions. However, for more than ten years, Haiti has failed in this duty.

The country is now classified as a State in "serious failure of submission". With 16 reports pending (including some on fundamental conventions), institutional dialogue has broken down, weakening the international credibility of the Haitian state.

The situation regarding Convention No. 98 (right to organize and bargain collectively) is critical. The government has not submitted a report on this subject since 2014:

• Textile sector : Serious allegations of anti-union dismissals persist.

• Insufficient protection : The Commission notes a lack of guarantees against union discrimination.

• Security impact : The current crisis in Haiti directly undermines the exercise of union rights, making collective bargaining virtually nonexistent.

Despite the ratification of Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, monitoring has stalled (no reports since 2011). Although the 2014 law on trafficking in persons exists, prosecutions remain limited, particularly at the border with the Dominican Republic. The practice of forced domestic labour of children, or restavèk, remains entrenched. The 2003 legislation is considered insufficient by the ILO because it does not provide sufficiently dissuasive criminal penalties to eradicate this exploitation.

Labor inspection (Convention #81) is experiencing a marked deterioration : inspectors lack a clear status, and their capacity to intervene is limited, particularly for nighttime inspections. Workers in precarious sectors are the primary victims of this lack of oversight.

Regarding social security and OFATMA (the Haitian Office for the Protection of Workers' Compensation), coverage remains limited to the formal economy. The majority of workers (agricultural and informal) are excluded from compensation for workplace accidents or occupational diseases.

In conclusion, the observation is undeniable: Haiti is experiencing a systemic crisis of social governance. The accumulation of delays exposes the country to major legal and reputational risks. Restoring Haiti's credibility will absolutely require transparency and the relaunch of effective social dialogue, the ILO emphasizes.

SL/ HaitiLibre