Worker - Haiti Observer Blog

SONAPI is the acronym for eSociété Nationale des Parcs Industrielsf (National Society of Industrial Parks), a semi-governmental agency that supports the largest number of jobs in the manufacturing sector in Haiti. Caracol Industrial Park (PIC) and Metropolitan Industrial Park are the properties of SONAPI which is an industrial and commercial autonomous body under public law responsible to implement, promote, organize and manage Industrial Parks in the Republic of Haiti. SONAPI was once a pride project of Haiti, opened in September 2012, with the objective of maintaining a constant initiative to boost the employment conditions in Haiti and create 60,000 jobs by 2016. However, since December 2013, news of wage differences started to come out, the brutal exploitation of workers in SONAPI have always remained in the news.

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Employers in the Haitian garment manufacturing industry are exploiting their workers as a dirt-cheap form of labor, as well as forcing them to work under unsafe conditions in violation of laws governing the industry. Garment workers are drastically underpaid, on average 32% less than minimum wage requirements. The standard pay rate is $4.54 per eight-hour shift. If they make their quota for the day they receive $6.81. The quotas are set are unrealistically high, the better for employers to avoid paying an extra $2.27 per day.

Henri-Claude Muller-Poitevien, who heads the government of Haiti's Garment Sector Commission (GSC), has an explanation why garment workers can't meet the daily quota. He says they are less able, and need practice to work faster and more competently.

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Carole Demesmin, a Haitian artist, made the name Mawoule popular through his song titled 'Maroule'. Maroule reflects the resilience and endurance of Haitian people. Maroules actually refer to people who are known for traveling from countryside to Dominican Republic and Haitian border and sometimes to Port-au-Prince with their cows. They travel by foot and they cover long distances anywhere between 70 and 160 miles to reach the destination. Maroules are people who come from different places of south Haiti.

As the story goes, one group of Maroules consisted of 2 to 3 people who traveled with around 20 to 30 cows. They traveled from one place to another in an attempt to sell these cows. This extraordinary travel by foot generally takes place during the night so that day traffic can be avoided. The travel beings somewhere at 9:00 P.M. and ends at around 5 P.M.

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Daniel Fignole, born in 1913 in Pestel and raised in grinding poverty, suffered from childhood malnutrition. To escape the poverty of his birthplace, Daniel re-settled in Port-au-Prince and sought an education. He proved to be an excellent student, winning acceptance to a top-tier university in the capital.

During the early 1940s, Daniel Fignole published the leftist, Chantiers, in which he harshly criticized the mulatto elite of Haiti. President Elié Lescot, provoked by Fignolé's attacks, stopped the publication, axed him from his government job, and spied on him.

Indifferent to government actions, Daniel Fignole kept organizing the working-class of Port-au-Prince. They became aware of him as an electrifying orator, motivational writer, and powerful labor leader. It was rumored he could rally mass demonstrations at a moment's notice. In 1947, he headed the Peasant Worker Movement, a tight-knit union comprised of every labor sector.

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Paul Magloire, Haiti's 35th president, was born in 1907, heir of a military father. He followed his father's career path, enlisting in the army and rising to Chief of Police in Port-au-Prince.

Paul Magloire played a pivotal role in overthrowing two Haitian presidents, Élie Lescot and his successor, Dumarsais Estimé. President Estimé, in a fruitless effort to draw out his time in office, attempted to amend the Constitution. The mulatto elite aided Magloire in deposing Estimé. Magloire then took the reins of power as President of Haiti.

During his term, Paul Magloire poured money into tourism, Haiti becoming known as a desirable vacation destination for foreign travelers. Imposing a tax on coffee-bean exports, he used the monies for development projects, raising living standards of the impoverished, as well as improving city services. Most notably, he gave the right-to-vote to women. In foreign policy, he forged stronger relations with the Dominican Republic, reversing the violent and unstable history they had shared in the past.

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Landing a job in the government can be your key to success. Government agencies offer competitive salary and benefits. Also, you can build an impressive work record when you are employed in the government. However, only those who have the patience and determination can nail a federal government job.

So in order to join its workforce, you might as well follow these tips.

First and foremost, you have to know more about government jobs. It is not advisable to apply for just about any job without understanding its requirements and description. There are more than 70 agencies and departments under the government and they offer a lot of opportunities to job seekers.

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A resume is your ticket to winning an interview at your prospective company. Do not underestimate the importance of a comprehensive resume because submitting it is the first way for employers to know more about you. If they were impressed by your resume, then you will likely receive a call for interview. Otherwise, your resume may just go straight to the shredder.

There are several factors you have to think about when creating a resume. One of them is the content. Do not include every little detail about you and your career experience, especially if you have been working for quite a long time already. You have to highlight relevant experiences only, including previous jobs that will have a great bearing on the position you are applying for. As much as possible, keep your resume short, clear and concise. A three-page resume is already considered a long one.

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Jerks are common at work places. Almost every company or office you'd work in, there will be one or two who'll be very good at ruining your day. However, you shouldn't let yourself and your productivity to be affected by their rude behavior, as there are ways to deal with jerk officemates.

First thing you can do is to reflect on yourself. Try to see if you have certain behavior that illicit a rude reaction from your jerk workmate. If you can find nothing wrong in your own attitude, then it is time to confront the other party in a peaceful manner.

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Freelancing is not for everyone. It has its pros and cons as well. So, if you ever want to quit that regular job of yours and try your hand at freelancing, you may want to take several factors into consideration first.
The Pros

Flexibility is one the best upsides of freelancing. When you are a freelancer, you can set your own work schedule and pace. Moreover, you can choose different projects to work on, as you won't be limited to a certain job role.

Another good thing about freelancing is that you can build a wide base of contacts and clients. People who have been freelancing for a few years already have a great network. They know who to call for certain projects anytime.

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U.S. business people are major contributors to the illegal immigration labor problem that has beset America for years, especially the last four.

American workers watch as good-paying employment continues to be outsourced, and illegals pass border patrols to enter and obtain subsistent-paying jobs. Nationally, unemployment figures are still well above normal levels. The occupy movements that have proliferated across the country are testament that the 99% are crying out for justice.

Congress has not addressed either job outsourcing or illegals' hiring issues that worsen the immigration labor problem. Dave Gibson, a former state-government administrator, observes self-serving politicians have colluded with dishonest businesspeople to exacerbate the immigration labor issue. They are accepting inappropriate monies businesspeople have pocketed through saving enormous amounts of money on payroll expenses employing illegals.

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