A Garment Sector at a Crossroads in Resilience, Institutional Strengthening, and the Path Forward

Haiti’s garment industry continues to operate under extraordinary pressure. Political instability, escalating insecurity, economic contraction, and uncertainty around international trade preferences have placed the sector—and the livelihoods it supports—at significant risk. The latest reporting cycle of Better Work Haiti highlights both the resilience of the sector and an important strategic transition. While factory-level compliance monitoring remains central, the program is increasingly focusing on strengthening national institutions that underpin sustainable labour governance.

Despite the country’s broader economic struggles, the garment sector continues to provide one of the largest sources of formal employment in Haiti. Tens of thousands of workers depend on the industry for stable wages and access to social protection systems, representing a vital lifeline for families in an otherwise fragile economic landscape. The sector’s growth has historically been supported by preferential trade arrangements with the United States, particularly through the HOPE II legislation, which expired in September 2025 introduced significant uncertainty for the sector. Historically, the Better Work Haiti program operations have been supported by funding from the United States Department of Labor. However, reductions in U.S. foreign assistance during 2025 significantly affected the program’s funding landscape, bringing financial constraints for continued operations with a smaller and more focused team.

The program conducted 21 assessments by leveraging the successful approach of hybrid assessments [that involved on-site inspections conducted by officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, while Better Work assessors participated remotely] and 68 advisory services visits to educate enterprises on several key areas, including:

• Strengthening occupational safety and health systems
• Improving human resource management practices
• Ensuring proper application of labour law provisions related to compensation
• Addressing industrial relations issues such as employee dismissals

Compliance assessments conducted during the reporting cycle revealed several recurring patterns across the garment industry. Three key trends emerged from the monitoring data.

• Persistent administrative compliance challenges
• Occupational safety and health gaps
• Relative stability in fundamental labour rights

One of the most significant developments during the reporting period was the evolution of Better Work Haiti’s role within the sector. While the program was originally established primarily as a compliance-monitoring mechanism, recent experience has demonstrated that many persistent compliance challenges stem from broader institutional gaps. As a result, the program is increasingly positioning itself as an institutional anchor within Haiti’s labour governance ecosystem.

This shift recognizes that sustainable improvements in labour standards require stronger coordination among public institutions responsible for labour inspection – the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MAST) -, mediation, and social protection – the Office of Insurance for Accidents at Work, Sickness, and Maternity (OFATMA) and the National Office of Old Age Insurance (ONA).

Discover more in the findings

This article highlights key insights from the latest reporting cycle. Still, the full report provides a deeper analysis of compliance trends, institutional developments, and recommendations for strengthening labour governance in Haiti’s garment sector. The report also provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead, along with detailed enterprise compliance data, sector analysis, and actionable recommendations.

Download the full report to explore the findings and learn how collective action can help sustain decent work and stability in Haiti’s garment industry.