In Haiti, one journalist was killed and others injured after police opened fire on a demonstration of factory workers in Port-au-Prince demanding living wages.

Port-au-Prince, February 24 (RHC)-- In Haiti, one journalist was killed and others injured after police opened fire on a demonstration of factory workers in Port-au-Prince demanding living wages. 

Earlier this week, Haiti’s government announced a minimum wage increase of up to 54% following weeks of demonstrations and amid soaring inflation.  But striking garment workers say that even with the pay raise, their salary is still just half, or less, of the roughly $15 per day they are demanding. 

Similien Miguelson, one of the organizers of the protest, told reporters: “Once again, we’ve taken to the streets to protest the wage adjustment of $1.70, because we do not accept it.  In the letters we’ve sent to Prime Minister Ariel Henry, we have demanded $14 and social benefits.  We’ve been to four meetings without reaching a solution.”

Garment workers in Haiti make clothes in sweatshop conditions for major U.S. brands, including Gap, Walmart and Target, and for Canada’s Gildan Activewear.