Life sputters back gradually in Haiti, as the garment industry machineries start to run. With a shocking aftermath of the quake,even the vibrations of the apparel industry machines are mistook for anaftershock making the workers scramble for safety.
Haitian system suffers a stroke, with the disastrous tremor,and its shocking repercussions. Money has stopped flowing in through theHaitian economy after the devastating quake. Most of the stores in the countryare closed, reluctant for reopening. With the apparel industry workers snowedunder a hand to mouth existence, they have desperate members depending on themnow, more than ever. Thousands of employees are jobless and moneyless. Even ifthe businesses open, owners do not have money to pump in, still besieged by therubble.
In an outpouring generosity, relief workers have been sentfrom several parts of the world. The deteriorated Haitian economy needssomething more fundamental than relief. People need proper jobs that willsustain their families for the years to come.
Garment manufacturers are stepping up with optimisticexpectations to resurrect the virtuous cycle of work. Around 25, 000 workershave started their work around Port-au-Prince. Employees streaming in throughthe gates of the industry is a wonderful sight to watch after a destructivequake. With earnings of 5 or 6 dollars for a day, a family depends on them,now, more than ever. Many of them return back to work, with the tiredness ofsleeping on the streets showing on their faces. Despite the factory ownersassure that their buildings are inspected and were declared safe, many sewingmachines are still lying empty. The cracks that run up the walls of thecavernous buildings are scaring them away. Slight vibrations of the apparelindustry machines are mistook for an aftershock making the workers run forsafety.
Garment industries in Haiti are set up as a cluster so as toshare a common need for support services. The size of the garment cluster istoo small to keep repair shops. It takes a long time to fly a technician andfix a broken sewing machine. Production costs are high as there are lessinvestors. Industry workers get paid less for long hours.
Garment industry workers sew, check, fold, pack, and stackthe garments. Cardboard boxes are filled with garments heading out to variousstores. Haitian apparel workers are hoping positively that the global appetitefor apparels will accelerate the countrys economic recovery very soon.
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