Marie spent less than a month in a garment factory in the Haitian capital, where she, like other workers, made clothes for a range of famous American brands, until she was exposed to outright blackmail.
Mary told the British newspaper “The Guardian” that the factory’s security director gave her an ultimatum: either she would have sex with him or she would be fired.
Mary, 24, did not have much choice, as she relied on her job to support her only 4-year-old child, after both her father and husband died.
Limitless blackmail
The overwhelmed worker said that the manager made her promises, such as that he would help her financially to secure her child’s studies at school, and in the end the worker acquiesced to the manager, but he not only did that, but he forced her to have sex with other security officials in the factory, and other officials there harassed her.
She added, “Every time I came to the factory, I felt humiliated and weak.” After that, the worker did not receive her salary or any financial support, she says.
Mary was the only one who spoke about what was going on inside the factory in which she works, and says that he witnesses sexual abuse against other workers, but they preferred to remain silent for fear of something happening to them.
Sex in exchange for work.. a phenomenon
The Guardian highlighted the growing phenomenon of “sex for work” in the factories of Haiti, the poor country in the Caribbean, where the most famous American clothing companies manufacture their products.
The newspaper says that in recent years, Haiti has become a cheap destination for famous American clothing companies, which are looking for low-cost suppliers, taking advantage of legislation passed in 2006 that allows American companies to enter goods made in Haiti into the United States without customs duties.
Approximately 60,000 male and female workers work in 41 Haitian factories, and produce for more than 60 American companies.
The newspaper, quoting local sources, stated that the working conditions in these factories are similar to concentration camps, as there are no workers’ rights and sexual abuse is common.
treated without humanity
“Workers are not seen as human beings or (people) in need of rights,” says Yannick Etienne, an official at a labor rights organization.
“The salaries are so low that it puts women in situations that force them to accept forced sex, in order to get her salary,” he added.
Haiti’s Ministry of Trade and Industry declined to comment when asked by the author of the report.
The government has not raised the minimum wage since 2019, even though inflation has risen more than 15 percent, and the country is experiencing catastrophic levels of insecurity and political turmoil.