Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Experts: Haiti minimum wage increase not enough, but raising it could mean job cuts

The Haitian times
www.haitiantimes.com 
By ONZ CHÉRY

haitiprotest HT
A textile worker chanting an anti-government slogan to demand the minimum wage to be increased to 1,500 gourdes during a Feb. 10 protest. Eleven days later, the government announced that textile workers’ minimum wage will only be raised from 500 to 685 gourdes, leaving factory workers still unsatisfied. Photo credit: AP/ Odelyn Joseph

CAP-HAITIEN — It is a lose-lose situation, the way the experts explain it.

Haitians cannot live off the country’s minimum wage, even if the government goes through with plans to raise it by an average of 54%. So, textile workers are still demanding an increase to 1,500 gourdes per day, or $14.44, and are back on the streets protesting. However, if the government were to raise the minimum wage, some businesses would cut jobs to lower expenses, experts and some business owners said.

“There’s nothing without consequences,” said Michaëlle Paraison, a member of the Haitian Association of Economists (AHE) based in Port-au-Prince. “You can’t just adjust salaries without first checking employers’ financial statements or we will never get to a just salary.”

To view the full story, please subscribe to The Haitian Times. You can choose a $60 Annual Subscription or a $5 Weekly Pass.

When you join The Haitian Times family, you’ll get unlimited digital access to high-quality journalism about Haiti and Haitians you won’t get anywhere else. We’ve been at this for 20 years and pride ourselves on representing you, our diaspora experience and a holistic view of Haiti that larger media doesn’t show you. 

Join now or renew to get:
— Instant access to one-of-kind stories and special reports 
— Local news from our communities (especially New York and Florida)
— Profiles of Haitians at the top of their fields
— Downloadable lists and resources about Haitian culture 
— Membership merch, perks and special invitations 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

First-time subscribers also receive a special welcome gift handmade in Haiti by expert artisans! Do it for the culture and support Black-owned businesses.

If you’re seeing this message but you’re already a subscriber, you can log in for immediate access to this story.

ADVERTISEMENT

IMM Mask Promos

I Messenger Media Radio Shows

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

News

Reverend Al Sharpton’s father has died at age 93, the social justice activist and TV personality announced Saturday morning on MSNBC. Al Sharpton Sr....

News

By JPMorgan Chase Anyone can be a victim of a scam or fraud. Scammers are always looking for ways to trick consumers out of their...

Sports

By Dorothy J. GentrySports EditorPhotos and Video: Eva D. Coleman Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at...

Editorial

By Dr. Bobby Eugene Mills The GOP has declared that its political governing philosophy is based upon conservatism. Question: what is it that the...

Advertisement