Haiti: Collapse of Social Rights, the ILO's Damning Indictment

Port-au-Prince, Friday, February 20, 2026 —The 2026 Report of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Committee of Experts officially classifies Haiti among states in “serious default of submission,” revealing the extent of the crisis paralyzing the country's social governance. A Breakdown in Dialogue with the International Institution Sixteen reports are currently awaited by the ILO, some dating back more than a decade. Haiti has not submitted its reports to the Committee for five to six consecutive years, thereby violating Article 19 of the ILO Constitution, which requires member states to regularly report on the application of ratified conventions. This deficiency, spanning over a decade, places the country in a situation of institutional isolation. The persistent absence of government reports prevents any adversarial review, forcing the Committee to reiterate its previous comments without being able to assess the actual evolution of the situation. Trade Union Freedoms: A Fundamental Right in Decline Regarding Convention No. 87 on freedom of association, ratified in 1979, the Committee notes the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Confederation of Public and Private Sector Workers (CTSP). These organizations denounce a continuous deterioration of human rights and civil liberties in the country. The security and institutional crisis concretely compromises the exercise of trade union rights, already weakened by an environment marked by violence and instability. Convention No. 98 on the right to organize and collective bargaining, ratified in 1957, is no better off. The government's report has been awaited since 2014. Serious allegations persist, particularly in the textile sector, concerning anti-union dismissals. The Committee highlights the inadequacy of protections against anti-union discrimination. Child Labor: The Persistence of the “Restavèk” Phenomenon Regarding the fight against the worst forms of child labor, under Convention No. 182 ratified in 2007, the absence of a report since 2011 reinforces concerns. Despite the adoption of the 2014 law on human trafficking, available information indicates limited investigations and prosecutions. The practice of forced child domestic labor, commonly known as “restavèk,” remains deeply entrenched. Although the 2003 legislation prohibits certain forms of abuse, it does not provide sufficient criminal sanctions. The Committee insists on the need to revise these provisions. Furthermore, the security context favors the increasing use of children by criminal organizations. Although the 2020 Penal Code criminalizes the incitement of minors to commit offenses, the concrete implementation of these provisions remains insufficiently documented. Access to education constitutes another structural challenge: the predominance of the private sector in school provision and high dropout rates compromise the sustainable prevention of child labor. Labor Inspection and Social Protection: Failing Systems The Committee notes a worrying deterioration of the labor inspection system with regard to Convention No. 81. Trade unions report institutional weakening, the absence of clear status for inspectors, and limited intervention capacity. The absence of a government report since 2021 prevents any updated evaluation. Regarding social security, the Committee notes that coverage remains essentially limited to the formal economy, excluding the majority of workers. Alleged dysfunctions in the management of OFATMA, as well as delays in benefit payments, raise questions about the state's responsibility. The Regional Dimension and Perspectives The report also highlights the situation of Haitian migrant workers, particularly in the Bahamas, where the Committee calls for measures against the discrimination they allegedly face. The accumulation of unsubmitted reports and the absence of regular dialogue with the ILO expose Haiti to increasing legal and reputational risk. However, the Organization's reiterated offer of technical assistance still represents a potential lever for recovery. Restoring Haiti's international credibility now requires a coordinated institutional response, based on transparency and the revival of social dialogue. Jean Wesley Pierre / Le Relief