Business - Job - Employment

Here is a picture of Les Allumettes Haitiennes LAHSA Gonaives

Gonaives, a home of sixty thousand people, is famous for two products: malaria and matchsticks. 'Les Allumettes Haitiennes S.A', was a single match factory in Gonaives; it was a place where about 30 people were employed to make matchsticks from the planks of New Orleans aspen and Colombian poplar. The factory started with the dumped stock of Swedish and Czechoslovakian matches that arrived Gonaives by ship from Miami. 'Pierrot,' the last owner of 'Les Allumettes Haitiennes S.A' used to spend hours in the factory building full of phosphorus smells. He inherited the business from Pierre Léon St Rémy, his father, a great trader of Gonaives. The local residents still prefer to call this 1.4 acre match factory property by its old name "Les Allumettes Haitiennes SA". However, because of government corruption and civil unrest the business was forced to move to India 30 years ago. In India, it still produces 90% of the matches sold in Haiti today.

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The benefits in investing in a country like Haiti.

On May 18, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended the Haitian authority for maintaining macroeconomic stability in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The authority has even maintained a moderate inflation, positive growth (7.8% in 2012), good debt assessment and adequate international reserves. The country, a WTO member, is now poised for growth. Haiti has significant geological and untapped mining resource potentials. It has a pro-business government, free market economy, low-cost labor and an abundance of hard working work force (because the average age of Haitians is 21.4 years). It is strategically located near the world's largest economy (USA) and two emerging countries Brazil and Colombia. The country has good access for maritime trade. Haiti simply needs capital in varieties of forms-- it might be cultural, social, intellectual, experimental, financial or material.

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Here is a picture of a help wanted ad posted by company Pennysaver with the sign: "No Haitians Need Apply.

An innocent looking 'help wanted' classified has sparked a torrent of outrage because it was a blatant form of discrimination towards the Haitian community. Interim Healthcare Inc., a Florida-based healthcare company has published an advertisement on October 15, 2015, which says, "Laid back nurse, no haitians, must have strong respiratory mngt". The advertisement was published in the Rockland County Penny saver newspaper, in an area with one of the highest concentration of Haitian population in the country. According to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the advertisement has violated federal and state civil rights laws because it clearly prohibits discrimination in hiring on the basis of national origin. After an outrage among local politicians as well as the Haitian American Nurses Association, an apology has been received from the president Katherine McNally on Monday, October 19, 2015.

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Here is a picture of the Seoul-based company Hansae as they are planning to build apparel factory in Haiti

Hansae, a Seoul-based clothing manufacturing company has signed an agreement with the state-run Sonapi Industrial Park to build a plant with the opportunity to employ about 5,000 Haitians. Hansae is one of the world's largest apparel makers with presence in 11 countries, employing nearly 60,000 employees. This Korean Clothes manufacturer's list of clientele includes Gap, Nike, Uniqlo H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch. From the new Haitian plant, they would be able to extend their export to the U.S market and boost its competitiveness in many ways. The detailed information about their plant's capacity, construction budget and the date of commission, etc has not yet been disclosed. SONAPI is the acronym for 'Société Nationale des Parcs Industriels', a semi-governmental agency that supports the largest number of jobs in the manufacturing sector in Haiti.

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Here is a picture of a Haitian woman involved in the commerce. Due to her limited capacity, she is obligated to find a place in the streets of Port-au-Prince to see if she can make enough to feed her family.

These businesses usually do not find any support from the Haitian government. Access to loan is almost non existant to those business people.

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Industry and Commerce minister of the Dominican Republic, Jose del Castillo, tells Haitian authorities, we have got to talk.

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Here is a picture of the Caracol Industrial Park (PIC) in North of Haiti with over 7,000 employees in 2015 and growing

The Caracol Industrial Park (PIC), sponsored by the Government of Haiti, the United States and the Inter American Development Bank, is an initiative to boost the employment conditions in Haiti. Since its birth in 2012, the PIC has seen tremendous development and progress. Within three years, there has been an increase in the number of jobs from 1300 in November 2012 to 7000 in January 2015. The industrial zone stretches for over 250 acres and has potential space for many small scale industries. Haiti's garment sector is re-emerging from this area, with the S & H Global acting as the beacon. The company provides as many as 60 jobs per week. The Haitian painting company in the PIC, the Caribbean Paintings, has recorded $51 million export in 2014. Off lately, around 700 small scale industries have had their inception around the PIC. The power plants have benefitted the Haitians living in the neighboring regions to a huge extent, providing electricity to nearly 8500 homes. The PIC is therefore considered a very efficient project for the economic growth as well as providing the Haitians with jobs.

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The spirit of service to our community has been introduced to Haiti by Marriott at the Communal Asylum (asile communal) in Delmas

Marriott International is carrying out its global initiative. 328,800 employee volunteers from 74 countries serve the community one day each year.

This year Communal Asylum was chosen. Volunteers visited the elderly, handing out food and toiletries.

Marriott Port-au-Prince's Peter Antinoph said, " . . . we seek to convey . . . the deep commitment of our company . . . . (and) help Port-au-Prince . . . become a space where life and activities are progressing . . ."

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Increase of 6.7% of minimum wage in textile industry in Haiti to take effect immediately

On Friday, May 1, 2015, at the ceremonies of Labor Day and agriculture, the President Martelly has announced an increase in the minimum wage rate by 6.7% over the current prevailing rate between 225 to 240 gourdes for an 8 hour daily work in the textile sector, with immediate effect. In the last year, On May 1, President Martelly announced 225 gourdes as the minimum wage rate for textile workers in compliance with a Presidential decree dated April 16, 2014. However, the textile workers found that this increase of minimum rate announced by 6.7% is far from their minimum requirement. They continued to demand a minimum earning of 500 gourdes excluding overtime remuneration.

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Here is President Michel Martelly at World Economic Forum on Latin America in May, 2015 in Mexico

On Thursday, May 7, 2015, President Martelly, accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of Trade and Industry, visited a forum on the 10th World Economic Forum on Latin America, at the Hotel Quintana Roo in Mexico. He took the opportunity to present many business and investment openings offered by Haiti to the overseas investors. He spoke before a panel composed of important dignitaries like Presidents Enrique Pena Nieto (Mexico), Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez (Panama) and of Klaus Schwab, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum. President Martelly assured his audience with information about the unique satisfactory investment environment and its infrastructure in Haiti. Outside the forum, he also had some other bilateral meetings including with the President of the National Institute of Entrepreneurs of Mexico and the Director General of small business of this institution (INADEM).

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