Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 (No. 17) - Haiti (Ratification: 1955)

In its previous reports, the Government undertook to ensure that victims of occupational accidents and their dependants benefit from conditions of compensation at least equal to those provided for in the Convention, in particular by restructuring and giving fresh impetus to the Insurance, Occupational Accidents, Sickness and Maternity Office (OFATMA). Having been through a difficult period, OFATMA has embarked on measures to regain the trust of employers and workers that aim to make the labour inspectorate more effective, keep an up to date national register of protected workers, record the number of occupational accidents and take steps to provide compensation.

In its latest report, the Government sends information, including statistics, on the running of occupational accident insurance. It states that, in view of the high cost of living, the amounts granted as cash benefits are vastly inadequate. A team has already been set up and recommendations are expected on bringing the regulations into line with the current situation. Furthermore, although in practice they are not affiliated to OFATMA, agricultural workers are one of the priorities of the Government’s policy. Ten branches of OFATMA have been opened in various parts of the country with a view to providing the population with local services.

The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its reforms aimed at setting up a social security system and invites it to report on the specific measures taken to make the system for compensating occupational accidents more efficient, particularly measures to ensure that all workers, including agricultural workers, protected by the legislation are affiliated to the accident compensation section of OFATMA.