Cane Workers in Dominican Republic Mobilize Against Ongoing Labor Exploitation

Despite the lifting of U.S. sanctions, forced labor persists in Dominican sugar plantations, according to advocacy groups.

Upcoming protests in Santo Domingo target labor exploitation in the sugar sector. Photo: Hispan TV

July 24, 2025 Hour: 5:59 am

Sugarcane workers in the Dominican Republic are once again at the center of rights violations claims, as labor advocates denounce enduring exploitation and forced labor practices on plantations linked to Central Romana, a key exporter to the U.S.

Decades after beginning work in Dominican sugarcane fields, many laborers—mostly Haitian migrants—still endure exploitative and precarious conditions. Advocacy organizations have raised new alarms, accusing plantation operators of maintaining systems of forced labor despite international scrutiny.

In 2022, U.S. authorities imposed sanctions on Central Romana Corporation after identifying evidence of forced labor in its operations. The sanctions blocked sugar exports to the United States. However, the U.S. lifted the ban approximately three months ago, even as rights groups argue that the underlying labor conditions remain unchanged.

“They continue to be denied fair wages, social security, and the pensions they earned over decades of labor,” said a representative of a grassroots group defending the rights of retired cane workers.

Labor organizers accuse the Dominican government and its institutions of turning a blind eye to the abuses. According to advocates, authorities have failed to ensure that long-promised pensions and severance payments reach those who spent their lives in the fields.

In response, retired cane workers and support organizations are planning renewed protests. Demonstrations are scheduled to begin later this month outside the Haitian embassy, where many workers will demand identity documents necessary to access benefits. From there, they plan to march to the National Palace in Santo Domingo, calling for full enforcement of labor protections and restitution for decades of unpaid entitlements.

As international attention on labor exploitation intensifies, Dominican cane workers and their allies continue pressing for justice and accountability. Whether institutions will take action remains to be seen.