In a significant enforcement action, Haiti’s Occupational Health, Safety and Social Security Agency (OFATMA) has compelled the closure of three construction sites in the Hinche region for systematic non-compliance with labor regulations. The crackdown followed repeated refusals by site operators to register their workers with the national social security system, despite receiving multiple formal notices.
The regulatory body characterized the operators’ conduct as deliberate resistance to legal obligations, prompting authorities to order immediate shutdowns. This decisive measure aims to terminate practices that violate Haiti’s social protection statutes and workplace safety standards.
The enforcement operation was conducted under judicial supervision with support from officers of the Haitian National Police (PNH), ensuring adherence to legal protocols and maintaining public order throughout the process.
OFATMA investigators reported that site operators exposed workers to substantial hazards by employing them without legal protection against occupational accidents and construction-related risks. The agency condemned this practice as a severe infringement of fundamental worker rights.
The institution reaffirmed that Haitian legislation mandates all employers to formally declare their employees and fulfill corresponding social security contributions. Non-compliance coupled with defiance of regulatory authority subjects violators to stringent administrative sanctions and potential judicial proceedings.
Legal actions are presently under deliberation, while any resumption of operations at the shuttered sites remains conditional upon complete regularization in strict accordance with existing legal frameworks.