Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Haiti
Minimal Advancement
In 2021, Haiti made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government adopted standard operating procedures that aim to coordinate the identification, aid, and reintegration of survivors of human trafficking, including children. However, children in Haiti are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture and domestic work. Minimum age protections for work apply only to children with a formal employment contract, which does not comply with international standards requiring all children to be protected. In addition, Haiti lacks a clear minimum age for domestic work and a list of hazardous occupations prohibited to children. Likewise, social programs to address child labor are insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem.
Children in Haiti are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture and domestic work. (1,2) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Haiti. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.
|
Children |
Age |
Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
34.4 (815,993) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
92.4 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
34.9 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
Unavailable |
Primary Completion Rate was unavailable from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022. (3)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization’s analysis of statistics from Enquête Mortalité, Morbidité et Utilisation des Services (EMMUS-V), 2012. (4)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
|
Sector/Industry |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Agriculture |
Raising livestock (5) |
|
Fishing (1,2,5,6) |
|
|
Industry |
Construction (1,2,6) |
|
Services |
Domestic work (2,7) |
|
Selling alcohol† and tobacco (1,5) |
|
|
Street work, including vending, begging, and washing cars (1,2,6-8) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Forced labor in domestic work, agriculture, street vending, and begging (1,2,7-9) |
|
Use in illicit activities, including by criminal groups in drug trafficking, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (5,7,9,10) |
|
|
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (7,9,11) |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
A 2015 study found that there were approximately 286,000 child domestic workers younger than 15 years old in Haiti. (2,6,12) Moreover, many of Haiti's human trafficking cases involve children subjected to forced labor as domestic workers. These children, exploited in what is commonly referred to as the restavèk system, are often physically abused, sexually exploited, and uncompensated for their services. (2,13) Human traffickers use church, sport, or family networks to locate children from poor families and traffic them to families who subject them to a form of indentured servitude. (13) Many of these children flee and end up living on the streets, where they face the risk of being trafficked again. (2) Some parents who are unable to care for their children send them to residential care centers or to relatives or strangers who are expected to provide the children with food, shelter, and schooling in exchange for household work. In practice, some of these children receive care and access to education, while many others become victims of labor exploitation and abuse. (7,14,15)
In addition, Haiti has over 750 orphanages that house over 30,000 children who may be vulnerable to human trafficking and child labor. (9) Only 129 of the 754 orphanages in the country are licensed. (75) According to a study by the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR), an arm of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), a majority of Haiti's orphanages fail to comply with the government's care standards. There is evidence that some children in orphanages engage in child labor as domestic workers and are prevented from attending school. (12,17,18,19) Reports indicate that human traffickers also target children in private and NGO-sponsored residential care centers. (2) In the past few years, the government closed 160 unaccredited orphanages and focused on promoting child fostering as an alternative to prevent child labor in residential institutions. (17,18) However, due to the instability and insecurity in the country in the past year, closures and enforcement of closures of non-compliant institutions became very difficult. Therefore, the government has focused on the regularization of the orphanage system, which led to an increase in the number of licensed institutions during the reporting period. (75)
According to some reports, children are often forced into commercial or transactional sex to fund basic needs such as school-related expenses. Impoverished children are often subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse. (20) Criminal gangs recruit children as young as age 10 and subject them to sexual exploitation and pornography. (20) Children displaced by the gang violence that took place in June 2021 and the August 14 earthquake were vulnerable to sexual exploitation, as many of them stayed in formal or informal internally displaced people camps while their parents went to work. (16) Haitian children are victims of human trafficking not only internally, but also externally, primarily to the Dominican Republic, other Caribbean countries, South America, and the United States. (7,13) NGOs have reported that children illegally crossing the Haiti-Dominican Republic border are often accompanied by adults paid to pose as the children's parents or guardians until they reach the Dominican Republic. (7) Some of the children illegally crossing the border are reunited with relatives in the Dominican Republic, while others are forced into commercial sexual exploitation, domestic work, agriculture, street vending, and begging. (1,6,21,22) In addition, Haiti is a destination country for child sex tourists, primarily from the United States and Europe. (13)
The Haitian Constitution guarantees a right to free primary education, which is also compulsory under the law. (30,31) Yet, because approximately 80 percent of all existing schools are private, most Haitian children are enrolled in private schools that charge tuition and other fees, making education prohibitively expensive to many families. (9,32,33) In addition, many children in Haiti are not registered at birth, and unregistered children are not able to access social services and educational programs provided by the government. (5) According to reports, approximately 30 percent of children ages 1 to 5 lack birth certificates or any other official documentation. Children born in rural communities are less likely to be documented than children in urban areas. (16)
There are significant barriers to education in Haiti, including the country's extreme poverty, security risks, teacher qualification levels, as well as dilapidated school premises and missing canteens. (32) Reports indicate that children, especially in rural areas, do not attend school due to the lack of school infrastructure and limited availability of teachers. (9) Children working in domestic labor have significantly lower school enrollment rates. (20) Additionally, estimates show that approximately 10 percent of students drop out of school before grade six and 40 percent before the end of grade nine. (32) Out-of-school children are more vulnerable to child labor, including its worst forms. (34) Another factor limiting access to education is the Ministry of Education's recommendation that a child be between ages 11 and 13 when transitioning to secondary school. Overage children must integrate into a special group that attends school during the evening. (30,35,36,37,38) However, research did not find evidence that schools provide instruction during the evening for special groups. Research also indicates that less than 14 percent of children with disabilities attend school, with only 3.5 percent of an estimated 120,000 children with disabilities attending school in Port-au-Prince. (16,20) Students with disabilities have less access to secondary education, with a majority of students with disabilities being integrated into general classes. (16)
Haiti has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
|
Convention |
Ratification |
|---|---|
|
ILO C. 138, Minimum Age |
✓ |
|
ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor |
✓ |
|
UN CRC |
✓ |
|
UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict |
✓ |
|
UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography |
✓ |
|
Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons |
✓ |
The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Haiti’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the minimum age for work that does not meet international standards.
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
No |
16 |
Articles 2, 340, 513, and 515 of the Labor Code; Article 10 of the Law Organizing and Regulating Labor (39,40) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 10, 333–335, 513, and 515 of the Labor Code; Article 2 of the Act on the Prohibition and Elimination of All Forms of Abuse, Violence, Ill Treatment, or Inhumane Treatment Against Children (Act of 2003) (39,41) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
No |
Articles 333–336 of the Labor Code (39) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
No |
Articles 4, 513, and 515 of the Labor Code; Article 2 of the Act of 2003; Articles 1.1.,11, and 21 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (39,41,42) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Article 2 of the Act of 2003; Articles 1.1, 11, 12, 15, and 21 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (41,42) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Article 2 of the Act of 2003; Article 281 of the Penal Code; Article 1.1, 11, 12, and 21 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (36,41,42) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Articles 47–51 and 72 of the Law on the Control and Suppression of Illicit Drug Trafficking; Article 2 of the Act of 2003 (41,43) |
|
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
No |
||
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
Yes |
Article 268 of the Constitution (30) |
|
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
No |
Article 70 of the Penal Code; Article 2 of the Act of 2003 (36,41) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
15 |
Article 23 of the Decree on the Reorganization of the Haitian Education System (31) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Articles 32.1 and 33 of the Constitution (30) |
The Labor Code, which establishes the penalty for violations of the minimum age for work, applies only to workers who perform work under a formal employment agreement, a stipulation that does not conform to international standards requiring all children to be protected under the law establishing a minimum age for work. (39,44) Furthermore, as the minimum age for work is 16, children age 15 are vulnerable to exploitative child labor because they are not required to attend school but also are not yet legally permitted to work. (31,39)
In addition, it is unclear whether there is a minimum age for domestic work because the Act on the Prohibition and Elimination of All Forms of Abuse, Violence, Ill Treatment, or Inhumane Treatment Against Children of 2003 (Act of 2003) annulled Chapter 9 of the Labor Code, which set the minimum age for domestic work at age 12. (39,41,44)
The Labor Code prohibits children under age 18 from working in establishments that sell alcohol and from working at night in industrial enterprises. (40,45) However, the types of hazardous work prohibited for children do not cover agriculture, an economic sector in which children are exposed to hazardous substances and agents and to temperatures that can damage their health. (1,10,43-46) In 2021, Haiti's National Tripartite Commission for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor updated the draft hazardous work list to include agriculture and livestock, mines and quarries, construction, transportation, and domestic work, but the draft list remains unapproved by Parliament for the seventh consecutive year. (5) Haiti's failure to hold legislative elections in 2019 caused the parliament to lapse in January 2020; since then, in part due to repeated crises, the country has continued delaying carrying out elections, and without a functioning parliament, the Haitian Government is not fully operational and is not able to pursue legal reforms. (7,47)
Laws related to forced labor are not sufficient, as slavery is not criminally prohibited. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law criminalizes trafficking for forced labor, servitude, and debt bondage, but makes no mention of slavery. (42) Research could not find evidence of any other legal provision criminally prohibiting slavery.
Although Haiti's Constitution establishes the age for compulsory military recruitment at age 18 and sources suggest recruitment materials set the minimum age for voluntary recruitment at that age, research could not find evidence of a law that establishes the age for voluntary recruitment. (5,30,48,49)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the authority of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
|
Organization/Agency |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST) |
Enforces laws related to child labor by issuing employment permits to approve certain forms of minor labor for children between ages 15 and 18, receiving complaints, conducting investigations, and referring cases to juvenile courts. (7,40,50) Develops and implements programs to raise awareness of child labor and provide social services to child victims of labor exploitation. Its agents at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) perform child protection inspections, which include following up on reported incidents of child labor, and are responsible for accrediting residential care centers. (7) |
|
Brigade for the Protection of Minors (BPM) |
Investigates crimes involving the worst forms of child labor, including child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Submits investigations to judicial authorities for criminal prosecution and refers child victims to IBESR. (7) Housed within the Haitian National Police, maintains 22 offices around the country, including 2 offices along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border. (7) |
|
POLIFRONT |
Enforces Haiti's Customs Code and investigates transnational crimes, including child trafficking. (7) Is also responsible for referring cases of vulnerable migrants, including minors, to IBESR. Serves as the Border Police Unit of the Haitian National Police. (7) Cooperates with the Dominican Republic Border Police. (51,52) Operates at the border crossings of Ouanaminthe and Anse-à-Pitres, and reportedly plans to establish a permanent presence in Malpasse and Belladère (the other two official border-crossing points) by 2021. (51,53,54) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2021, labor law enforcement agencies in Haiti took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, the government did not provide sufficient data on its labor law enforcement efforts, which limits the ability to assess its efforts.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2020 |
2021 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties |
No (39) |
Yes (39) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Unknown (7) |
Yes (9) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A (7) |
N/A (9) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (7) |
Yes (9) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (7) |
Yes (9) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Unknown (7) |
Yes (9) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (39) |
Yes (39) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (7) |
Yes (9) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (7) |
Yes (9) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (7) |
Yes (9) |
The government provided limited information on its labor law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report.
In 2021, in addition to operational challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, research indicates that the lack of sufficient resources, such as the means of transportation, fuel, and appropriately equipped workplaces, hampered MAST’s enforcement efforts. This included IBESR’s capacity to enforce child labor laws by conducting an adequate number of labor inspections. (1,5,7,9,10,55) IBESR reported that it was unable to conduct a single child protection inspection in 2021, including following up on reported incidents of child labor, in part due to the negative impact the pandemic had on the government's ability to operate. (9,75)
According to IBESR, inspectors received insufficient training on child labor issues overall. (9) While the number of labor inspectors in the country is unknown, according to the ILO's technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed countries, Haiti would need to employ roughly 127 labor inspectors as its workforce consists of over 5 million workers. (56,57)
IBESR manages the “1-3-3” hotline that receives complaints about situations requiring child protection. (58) However, the hotline functions exclusively in Port-au-Prince, leaving rural areas without a mechanism to receive child labor complaints. The number of calls related to child labor received during 2021 is unknown. (75)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2021, criminal law enforcement agencies in Haiti took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of the criminal enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including insufficient allocation of financial and human resources.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2020 |
2021 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
N/A (7,59) |
Yes (75) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A (7) |
N/A (9) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Number of Investigations |
585 (7) |
466 (9) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
424 (7) |
190 (9) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
35 (7) |
24 (9) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown (7) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (59) |
Unknown (9) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (7) |
Yes (9) |
In 2021, reports indicate that BPM continues to lack an adequate number of agents and that its training, equipment, transportation, and funding are deficient, all of which has hampered the brigade's ability to enforce laws related to the worst forms of child labor. (1,6,7,9,53,60) BPM reported that only a few investigators received training, and that of new employees only around 12 percent received initial training. BPM indicated it assisted more than 190 children, following its inspections, through legal assistance and medical and psychological referrals. (9)
A referral mechanism between BPM, IBESR, and NGOs is in place to provide reintegration services to victims of the worst forms of child labor. (5-7,9,60) BPM also manages the “1-8-8” hotline, which receives notifications of alleged violations related to the worst forms of child labor. (5) However, in common with the IBESR "1-3-3" hotline, the “1-8-8” hotline functions exclusively in Port-au-Prince, which makes reporting cases involving the worst forms of child labor more difficult in rural areas. (6,12)
The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8).
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
National Tripartite Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Develops policies, approves programs, and coordinates, monitors, and evaluates efforts to address child labor in Haiti. (9,61) Chaired by MAST, includes representatives from the government, private sector, and unions. (9) Receives technical support from the ILO. (9,61) In June 2021, it raised awareness about child labor on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labor. (9) |
|
National Committee for the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons (CNLTP) |
Coordinates actions against human trafficking and provides protection and rehabilitation services to victims. Chaired by IBESR, includes representatives from MAST, other ministries, and BPM. (7,12,42) Consists of task forces and sub-committees to address trafficking in persons. These are established in three provinces: South-East, North-East, and the Central Departments. (7) The sub‐committees include provincial and other governmental representatives, police officers, investigating judges, and representatives of IBESR, BPM, and the Office of Citizen Protection, among others, and are charged with leading and coordinating counter-trafficking in persons activities undertaken by civil society and local authorities. The sub‐committees document and follow up on cases and coordinate prevention work in accordance with the Strategic Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons in their respective regions. (7) In July 2021, the CNLTP, with the support of IOM and LUMOS Foundation, adopted the “Standard Operating Procedures for the Identification and Accompaniment of Victims of Trafficking in Persons” to coordinate the identification, aid, and reintegration of survivors of human trafficking in the country. It established identification mechanisms for children, children in domestic servitude, children in orphanages, and labor trafficking. (9,75) It also discusses support for and reintegration of survivors while specifying the procedures that should be used for minors. IBESR was consulted extensively during its drafting and under the framework holds primary protection responsibilities whenever the victim is a child, including in all instances of child labor. (9) |
|
Child Protection Working Group |
Implements, coordinates, and monitors efforts related to child protection, including protection for child domestic workers. Chaired by IBESR, comprises international and national non-governmental stakeholders and officials from various ministries. (62) It is intended to improve the coordination of issues related to child protection by providing a regular meeting forum. (9) Holds multi-stakeholder meetings attended by IBESR, BPM, and MAST, with additional participation by and technical support from UNICEF and other child protection partners. (5) In 2021, it continued to be used as a mechanism for collaborative dialogue. (9) |
The government has established a policy related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including a lack of implementation of the key national policy.
|
Policy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
National Social Protection and Promotion Policy |
Initiated under a safety net program called Kore Lavi and funded by USAID. Aims to build institutional resilience for social protection and promotion against economic shocks and health crises such as the current pandemic. (7,59) Consists of four major pillars, including both childhood social care and efforts to support employment and employability. Lines of effort under these two pillars include identification and removal of children from work and vocational training for youth, among other activities. (7) Efforts include the World Bank partnering with MAST and WFP to deliver cash transfers to targeted households, and IDB partnering with WFP and the Economic and Social Assistance Fund to deliver food and cash to vulnerable households in several departments of the country. (7,59) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement this policy during the reporting period. |
In 2021, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including the inadequacy of efforts to address the problem in all sectors.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Government Child Shelter, Census, and National Child Protection Database† |
Government program to support child protection. Through IBESR, implements the government’s regulatory framework for residential care centers, such as orphanages and shelters, collects information on vulnerable children, and tracks them through the National Child Protection Database. (64) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement this program during the reporting period. |
|
Special Program of Free Education (PROSGATE)† |
Replaced the National Free Education Program. (65) Aims to increase poor children’s access to education. Includes school grants intended to eliminate school fees and for accelerated learning programs for students who are lagging in school. (66-68) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement this program during the reporting period. |
|
UNICEF Country Program (2017–2021) |
UNICEF-funded program supporting the government’s efforts to improve education, health, social inclusion, and protection for children in Haiti. (64,69,70,71,72) In 2021, distributed school materials to 82,582 students in eight departments of the country, as well as materials to 5,155 students who completed remedial activities in preparation for state exams. (76) It also rehabilitated work and school furniture in seven schools, and began construction of 66 semi-permanent classrooms in 11 schools in three of the departments affected by the 2021 earthquake. Lastly, it provided a tutoring and remedial program to prevent children and adolescents from dropping out of school that benefited 1,109 displaced students. (76) |
|
Providing an Education of Quality in Haiti (2016–2022) |
$30 million World Bank-implemented program that aims to strengthen public management of the education sector, improve learning conditions, and increase enrollment of students in selected public and non-public primary schools. (73) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement this program during the reporting period. |
† Program is funded by the Government of Haiti.
Despite IBESR’s efforts to collect information for the National Child Protection Database, the database does not fully capture all relevant information, including the number of displaced street children and children engaged in domestic work. Moreover, reports indicate the database is not operating and that no tangible progress has been made following its initial presentation in 2019. (59) Although Haiti has programs that target the worst forms of child labor, the scope of these programs is insufficient to fully address the extent of the problem, particularly in domestic work, agriculture, and child trafficking. (6,7,74)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Haiti (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal Framework |
Ensure that minimum age for work protections apply to all children, including those without formal employment contracts. |
2014 – 2021 |
|
Clarify the minimum age for work, including for domestic work. |
2009 – 2021 |
|
|
Adopt a list of hazardous occupations and activities, and ensure that the hazardous occupations and activities prohibited for children are comprehensive and include work in hazardous agricultural environments. |
2009 – 2021 |
|
|
|
Ensure that the law criminally prohibits slavery. |
2021 |
|
Ensure that the law establishes a minimum age for voluntary recruitment by the state military, at age 18 or at age 16, with safeguards for voluntariness. |
2018 – 2021 |
|
|
|
Ensure that the law criminally prohibits the recruitment of children under 18 by non-state armed groups. |
2021 |
|
Raise the compulsory education age so that it aligns with the minimum age for work. |
2017 – 2021 |
|
|
Enforcement |
Collect and publish information on labor law enforcement efforts, including on labor inspectorate funding; the number of labor inspectors and whether they received initial training; the number and type of labor inspections conducted; the number of violations found and total penalties imposed and collected; and whether routine, targeted, and unannounced inspections were carried out. |
2013 – 2021 |
|
Ensure that the number of labor and criminal law enforcement agents, and the training and resources for labor and criminal law enforcement agencies, are sufficient to adequately enforce laws related to child labor, including its worst forms. |
2013 – 2021 |
|
|
Expand the reach of the hotlines operated by the Brigade for the Protection of Minors and IBESR to facilitate reporting of child exploitation cases in areas beyond Port-au-Prince, including in rural areas, as well as track and publish information on the number of hotline calls related to child labor. |
2013 – 2021 |
|
|
Collect and publish complete information on the trainings provided to criminal investigators and data on the number of convictions and penalties imposed related to the worst forms of child labor. |
2020 – 2021 |
|
|
Ensure that IBESR conducts child protection inspections, including following up on reported incidents of child labor. |
2020 – 2021 |
|
|
Ensure the number of labor inspectors in Haiti meets the ILO's technical guidance. |
2020 – 2021 |
|
|
Government Policies |
Ensure that policies to prevent or address child labor are implemented. |
2017 – 2021 |
|
Social Programs |
Enhance efforts to eliminate barriers and make education accessible for all children by removing school-related fees; increasing the number of public schools and teachers, especially in rural areas and camps near the border with the Dominican Republic; ensuring that public schools address language barriers; meeting the specific educational needs of vulnerable populations, including recent arrivals from the Dominican Republic, unregistered children, child domestic workers, and children with disabilities; and ensuring that children who start their education late or repeat grades are allowed to transition to secondary school. |
2009 – 2021 |
|
Expand the National Child Protection Database, including by identifying displaced street children and children in domestic work. |
2010 – 2021 |
|
|
Expand existing social programs to address the scope of the child labor problem, particularly in domestic work, agriculture, and child trafficking. |
2010 – 2021 |
|
|
Ensure that all social programs are active and fulfilling their mandates as intended. |
2019 – 2021 |
|
|
Collect and publish data on the extent and nature of child labor to inform policies and programs. |
2021 |
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. April 2, 2018.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2020: Haiti. Washington, DC, June 25, 2020.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/haiti/ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 3, 2022. For more information, please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
http://data.uis.unesco.org/ - ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Enquête Mortalité, Morbidité et Utilisation des Services (EMMUS-V), 2012. Analysis received March 2022. Please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. January 14, 2020.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. February 13, 2018.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. January 14, 2021.
- Gupta, Varsha. Child Labor in Haiti- How it came about and what is its nature? Haiti Now. Accessed April 29, 2017.
https://www.haiti-now.org/child-labor-haiti/ - U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. March 29, 2022.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. February 12, 2019.
- Agence France-Presse. Haiti: Dozens rescued, 12 arrested in human trafficking ring. February 6, 2017. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. March 15, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. February 26, 2021.
- Better Work Port-au-Prince official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. April 20, 2018.
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https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/haiti/ - AP Press. Haiti grapples with task of helping its vulnerable children. Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 26, 2018.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/07/26/breaking-news/haiti-grapples-with-task-of-helping-its-vulnerable-children/ - Issac, Harold and Kirk Semple. Fire Kills 17 at Unaccredited Orphanage. New York Times, February 14, 2020.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/americas/haiti-orphanage-fire.html - Cohen, Lisa. How traffickers exploit children in Haiti's orphanages. CNN.com, March 2, 2018.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/20/health/haiti-orphanages/index.html - U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2020: Haiti. Washington, DC, March 30, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ - U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Haiti. Washington, DC, June 20, 2019.
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- Diario Libre. Las Deportaciones y el Exodo de Haitianos Encarecen la Comida en República Dominicana. May 13, 2021.
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/internacional/las-deportaciones-y-el-exodo-de-haitianos-encarecen-la-comida-en-republica-dominicana-KG26206518 - U.S. Embassy- Santo Domingo. Reporting. February 18, 2022.
- EFE. La ONU Pide a República Dominicana Suspender las Deportaciones de Embarazadas. November 16, 2021.
https://www.efe.com/efe/america/sociedad/la-onu-pide-a-republica-dominicana-suspender-las-deportaciones-de-embarazadas/20000013-4677072 - Coto, Dánica. Maltratos y Expulsiones de Haitianos de República Dominicana. AP News. December 5, 2021.
https://apnews.com/article/noticias-4997192833f6d9cf2b8923882789dd74 - Listin Diario. Migración Anuncia Operativo Masivo de Deportaciones en Comunidades Pobladas de Haitianos. October 11, 2021.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2021/10/11/691813/migracion-anuncia-operativo-masivo-de-deportaciones-en-comunidades-pobladas-de-haitianos - Hasbun, Jessica. CNN. República Dominicana Detiene y Deporta Grupo de Haitianas Embarazadas y con Bebés Recién Nacidos en las Afueras de Hospital. November 12, 2021.
https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2021/11/12/republica-dominicana-detiene-y-deporta-grupo-de-haitianas-embarazadas-y-con-bebes-recien-nacidos-en-las-afueras-de-hospital/ - U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2016: Haiti. Washington, DC, March 03, 2017.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2016-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/haiti/ - Government of the Republic of Haiti. Constitution of Haiti. Enacted: 1987.
http://pdba.georgetown.edu/constitutions/haiti/haiti1987.html - Government of the Republic of Haiti. Décret Organisant le Système Educatif Haitien en Vue D'offrir des chances égales à tous et de Refléter la Culture Haitienne. Enacted: March 30, 1982. Source on file.
- UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning. Dropping Out of School: An Unwelcomed Trend in Haiti. October 26, 2020.
http://www.iiep.unesco.org/en/dropping-out-school-unwelcomed-trend-haiti-13528 - Paultre, Andre; and Marsh, Sarah. Haiti's Schools Re-open but Many Parents Now Can't Afford them. Reuters. August 20, 2020.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-haiti-education/haitis-schools-re-open-but-many-parents-now-cant-afford-them-idUSKBN25G11Q - Radfar, Amir; Asgharzadeh, Seyed Ahmad Ahmadi; Quesada, Fernando; and Filip, Irina. Challenges and Perspectives of Child Labor. Industrial Psychiatry Journal. 2018.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6198592/?report=printable - UN Human Rights Council. Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti - Note by the Secretariat. March 8, 2017. Source on file.
- Government of the Republic of Haiti. Code Pénal. Enacted: 1985.
https://www.refworld.org/docid/4c3440772.html - Felicien, Marie Michelle. Haiti Bans Overage Students From Secondary Education, but One School Has a Solution. Global Press Journal. August 13, 2018.
https://globalpressjournal.com/americas/haiti/haiti-bans-overage-students-secondary-education-one-school-solution/ - USAID official. Email communication to USDOL official. April 22, 2019.
- Government of the Republic of Haiti. Code du Travail. Enacted: 1984.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/135/98545/F1595767852/HTI-135.pdf - Government of the Republic of Haiti. Loi portant organisation et règlementation du travail sure la durée de vingt-quatre (24) heures repartie en trois (3) tranches de huit (8) heures. September 21, 2017. Source on file.
- Government of the Republic of Haiti. Loi relative à l'interdiction et à l'élimination de toutes formes d'abus, de violences, de mauvais traitements ou traitements inhumains contre les enfants. Enacted: June 5, 2003. Source on file.
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http://haitijustice.com/pdf/legislation/traffic_illicite_stupefiants_haiti.pdf - ILO CEACR. Direct Request concerning Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Haiti (ratification: 2009). Published: 2019.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3963306 - ILO CEACR. Direct Request concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Haiti (ratification: 2007). Published: 2019.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3963434:NO - ILO Port-au-Prince official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. January 06, 2017.
- France 24. UN Security Council Accepts Haiti Election Delay to 2022. October 4, 2021.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211004-un-security-council-accepts-haiti-election-delay-to-2022 - U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 17, 2019.
- Government of the Republic of Haiti. Avis de recrutement d'une classe de soldats. Ministère de la Défense. Accessed July 12, 2019.
https://www.communication.gouv.ht/2018/10/avis-de-recrutement-dune-classe-de-soldats/ - U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. May 15, 2017.
- Haiti24.net. Haïti-Sécurité: POLIFRONT, une nouvelle entité de la PNH contrôle la frontière. December 28, 2017.
http://haiti24.net/haiti-securite-polifront-une-nouvelle-entite-de-la-pnh-controle-la-frontiere/ - U.S. Embassy in Haiti. U.S. Ambassador Highlights U.S. Government Partnership with Haiti in the Northeast. August 14, 2018.
https://ht.usembassy.gov/u-s-ambassador-highlights-u-s-government-partnership-with-haiti-in-the-northeast/ - U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2018: Haiti. Washington, DC, June 28, 2018.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/haiti/ - U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince. Reporting. February 14, 2020.
- ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) Haiti (ratification: 1952). Published: 2017. Accessed October 20, 2017.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3295579:YES - UN. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021 Statistical Annex. New York, 2021. Please see “Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210054980/read - ILO modelled estimates and projections (ILOEST) – Population and labour force. Accessed (January 25, 2022). Labor force data is modelled on a combination of demographic and economic explanatory variables by the ILO. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/ - UN Human Rights Council. Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review - Haiti - Addendum - Views on conclusions and/or recommendations, voluntary commitments and replies presented by the State under review. March 13, 2017. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 30, 2021.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2017: Haiti. Washington, DC, June 27, 2017.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2017-trafficking-in-persons-report/haiti/ - National Commission for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. DRAFT: National Action Plan to Combat Child Labor. June 19, 2014. Source on file.
- Government of the Republic of Haiti. Groupe de Travail Protection de l'Enfance Niveau National—Termes de Reference. 2014. Source on file.
- Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR). Stratégie Nationale de Protection de l’Enfant. September 2015.
http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00M2GJ.pdf - UNICEF. Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report, Mid-Year 2018. June 30, 2018.
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNICEF Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report, Mid-Year 2018.pdf - Haiti Libre. Haiti- Education: Already 116 Million Arrears of Wages Paid on Nearly 800 Million. November 20, 2019.
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29312-haiti-education-already-116-million-arrears-of-wages-paid-on-nearly-800-million.html - UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning. Improving school financing. 2018.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000246712_eng - Le Nouvelliste. Utilisation du FNE, la CSCCA Révèle des Chiffres Incompréhensibles. July 10, 2019.
https://lenouvelliste.com/article/204332/utilisation-du-fne-la-cscca-revele-des-chiffres-incomprehensibles - Haiti Libre. Haïti- Éducation : Le FNE Discute de L’utilisation de la Subvention des Frais de Scolarité. July 17, 2019.
https://www.haitilibre.com/article-28258-haiti-education-le-fne-discute-de-l-utilisation-de-la-subvention-des-frais-de-scolarite.html - UNICEF. Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report January–December 2020. 2020.
https://www.unicef.org/media/94046/file/Haiti-SitRep-December-2020.pdf - UNICEF. Hurricane Matthew three months on: Life for Haiti's children. January 9, 2017.
https://www.unicef.org/stories/hurricane-matthew-three-months-life-haitis-children - UNICEF. Haiti- Annual Report 2017.
https://www.unicef.org/about/annualreport/files/Haiti_2017_COAR.pdf - Morin, Karine. Mettre fin au travail des enfants en Haïti. UNICEF Canada, February 24, 2017.
https://www.unicef.ca/fr/blog/mettre-fin-au-travail-des-enfants-en-haiti - World Bank. Providing an Education of Quality in Haiti (PEQH) (P155191). August 10, 2017: Implementation Status & Results Report—Sequence 02.
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/647071502404387101/pdf/ISR-Disclosable-P155191-08-10-2017-1502404378346.pdf - American Institutes for Research. Alliance pour la Protection des Enfants- Haiti. 2017.
http://www.air.org/project/alliance-pour-la-protection-des-enfants-haiti - U.S. Embassy- Port-au-Prince official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 8, 2022.
- UNICEF. Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report January–December 2021. 2021.
https://www.unicef.org/media/115776/file/Haiti%20Humanitarian%20Situation%20Report,%2031%20December%202021.pdf
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