by Beverly Bell, Alexis Erkert, and Deepa Panchang May 23, 2013
Over the past few weeks in this article series, we’ve heard
firsthand from Haitian garment workers about low wages, sexual
abuse, labor rights violations, and work-related injuries they
suffered in sweatshops. Meanwhile, the world has watched the
death toll in last month’s factory collapse in Bangladesh creep
to above 1,100. Global activists have joined the calls of
protesting workers, ramping up pressure on clothing retailers
against the regular mistreatment and deaths of workers. Slowly,
the public is realizing that exploitation within the garment
assembly industry is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, we
take a deep dive into the economics of this sector in Haiti to
look at how it has come to be, and at what alternative pathways
might look like. Haiti Presidential Palace In discussions among
foreigners about working conditions and wages in the assembly
industry, we often hear, “But Haitians need jobs. Wouldn’t
things be worse without the