The US quietly lifts a ban on a major Dominican sugar producer that has long been accused of forced and exploitative child labor. According to the Dominican Times, exports from Central Romana Corporation will resume shipping sugar and related products to the US. Labor rights groups warn that this move undermines the fight against forced labor and raises ethical concerns over the politicization of enforcing human rights.
Ignoring forced labor allegations
Credible allegations of exploitative labor practices by Central Romana Corporation led the Biden administration to ban imports from the company in 2022. Accusers claimed that the company withheld wages, forced excessive overtime, and maintained abusive working and living conditions for its employees.
Despite these well-documented concerns, according to The New York Times, the ban order is now listed as “inactive” on the US customs website. Labor rights advocates warn that this decision is not based on meaningful improvements in working conditions. Allie Brundey, a senior staff attorney from Corporate Accountability Lab (CAL) states,
“We haven’t seen a significant enough change to warrant modification. This is a disappointing outcome, but we will continue to support workers in their fight for better conditions.”
A politically motivated decision?
The ban’s reversal is particularly troubling given Central Romana’s political ties. The company is partly owned by the Fanjul family, who are heavily invested in US politics. According to Open Secrets, in 2024, the Fanjul Corporation contributed $1 million to the Make America Great Again Political Action Committee, and over $400,000 to the Republican National Committee. These donations raise serious questions about whether financial influence played a role in the decision to lift the ban.
An anonymous US official suggested that the process bypassed standard review procedures.
“This decision did not follow established protocols. Given Central Romana’s powerful ownership, it was likely made at the highest levels of CBP,” the official stated.
Longstanding exploitation and systemic abuse
According to a 2023 report by CAL, forced labor and worker exploitation are common knowledge in the Dominican sugar industry and have been for decades. Specifically, among Haitian and Haitian-descendant workers.
Central Romana’s workforce is especially vulnerable because most workers are undocumented or stateless. This is due to a 2013 Dominican court ruling that revoked birthright citizenship for children of foreign parents.
“Haitian migrants and their descendants in the Dominican Republic face widespread discrimination and abuse, and they are at constant risk of deportation when they assert their rights,” the report states.
When authorities originally imposed the ban in 2022, they cited five key indicators of forced labor, including abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, excessive overtime, isolation, and abusive working conditions. However, CAL has identified additional forced labor indicators, such as intimidation, debt bondage, forced evictions, threats against those who complain, and inadequate housing lacking clean water and electricity.
Forced labor is not a partisan issue
Lifting the ban without clear evidence of meaningful change sends a dangerous message. It signals that companies with the right political connections can dismiss forced labor allegations.
Rescinding the ban without concrete proof of improved labor conditions prioritizes corporate interests over ethical trade. The US must uphold its commitment to human rights by ensuring that political considerations do not outweigh labor protections. Sign our petition for all governments to pass mandatory human rights due diligence laws to put people before profit.
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