Haitian garment workers protest to demand higher wages

Haitians protest along the streets against their country's unstable economic, political and social situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 17, 2022. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Thousands of Haitian garment workers protested in Port-au-Prince on Thursday to demand higher wages following weeks of similar demonstrations over pay and working conditions at firms that export to U.S. clothing retailers.

For decades, Haiti has promoted itself as a center for clothing manufacturing thanks to low wages and proximity to U.S. markets, but has faced consistent complaints that wages are too low to cover the cost of basic goods in the Caribbean nation.