$762,000 in Back Pay for Workers Making Collegiate Apparel in Haiti

We are happy to share some good news at the start of the week. Please find here a brief report on the WRC’s successful resolution of violations of university labor standards at a factory in Haiti producing for MV Sport. In short:

• A WRC investigation found that Digneron Manufacturing failed to pay workers $762,000 in legally mandated compensation when it ceased operations.
• MV Sport was sourcing collegiate apparel from the factory via Gildan Activewear.
• The violations affected 1,600 workers and their families.
• Because it proved impossible to compel the factory owners to pay, the WRC called on Gildan, the factory’s main buyer, to provide the funds necessary to pay the workers what they are legally owed.
• Gildan has now agreed to pay the workers in full. This will correct the violations of university labor standards.
• The workers will receive 3.5 months of wages on average.
• The funds will be distributed to workers this month, and the WRC will independently verify the distribution.
• This will provide crucial support to workers and their families, which is especially important given the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

Despite widespread gang violence and the collapse of civil authority in Haiti, the WRC has been able to continue responding to worker complaints, conducting investigations, and achieving concrete remedies for workers—ensuring that university labor standards are upheld and that workers making collegiate apparel are protected from wage theft and other abuses.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.