HAITI: DEPUTIES FINALLY APPROVE MINIMUM WAGE LAW--

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000742 STATE FOR WHA/EX, WHA/CAR, EEB STATE PASS SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON ETRD HA PGOV PREL EINV SUBJECT: HAITI: DEPUTIES FINALLY APPROVE MINIMUM WAGE LAW-- WITH PRESIDENT'S OBJECTIONS REF: A. PORT AU PRINCE 733 ¶B. PORT AU PRINCE 713 ¶C. PORT AU PRINCE 706 ¶D. PORT AU PRINCE 642 ¶E. PORT AU PRINCE 583 ¶F. PORT AU PRINCE 553 ¶G. PORT AU PRINCE 530 ¶H. PORT AU PRINCE 486 ¶1. (U) Parliamentary deputies on August 18 voted narrowly in favor of President Preval's objections to the original minimum wage legislation, thereby setting the minimum wage to HTG 125 (USD 3.00) in the textile sector and HTG 200 (USD 5.00)in the industrial and commercial sectors. The Chamber of Deputies first voted to consider the President's objections, 29 to 28. Then 38 deputies voted in favor of the objections, 36 against, and 4 abstained. The legislation is now subject to Senate approval, upon which it will become law. ¶2. (U) Deputy Stephen Benoit, author of the original minimum wage bill, accepted the vote but vowed to continue fighting for HTG 200 in the Senate. President of the Chamber of Deputies Levaillant Louis Jeune called on workers to remain patient and calm in waiting for a gradual increase in their wages. The Haitian Association of Industries (ADIH) welcomed the vote but called for accompanying measures to support the purchasing power of textile workers. ¶3. (U) Demonstrations demanding the release of students arrested during minimum wage protests last week turned briefly violent again on August 18 when protestors marching from the Faculty of Medicine began throwing rocks. Daily operations at SONAPI Industrial Park remain calm with Haitian National Police (HNP) posted outside each factory. LINDWALL