A three-year investigation by the nonprofit Corporate Accountability Lab has uncovered evidence of persistent forced labor on massive sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic. The findings specifically target Central Romana Corporation, the nation's largest landowner, alleging systemic exploitation of vulnerable migrant populations.
The 2022 U.S. Import Ban and the Fanjul Connection
The history of trade restrictions involving Central Romana Corporation includes a significant 2022 ban on imports of sugar and related products by the United States. This ban, initiated following investigations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was later reversed during the Trump administration. The reversal has drawn scrutiny because one of the owners of Central Romana is the Florida-based Fanjul Corp., which also owns Florida Crystals.
As the report by Corporate Accountability Lab notes, the Fanjul family maintains close ties to both the Dominican government and former President Trump. this political intersection complicates the enforcement of labor standards, as previous accusations by U.S. officials included the isolation of workers, the withholding of wages, and the enforcement of excessive overtime.
8,000 Workers Across 173,700 Acres of Sugarcane
The scale of the alleged exploitation is vast, covering more than 173,700 acres of sugarcane fields. Local civil society groups estimate that approximately 8,000 workers are employed within these fields, many of whom are Haitian migrants or stateless individuals. These populations are identified as being particularly susceptible to labor abuses due to their lack of legal protections.
Living conditions for these workers have been a recurring point of contention. according to the report, many employees are forced into cramped housing that frequently lacks basic necessities like electricity or running water. These conditions were previously verified by Associated Press journalists, who documented the substandard living environments provided to the plantation workforce.
Statelessness and the Lack of Social Security
Corporate Accountability Lab has identified two specific groups that face the highest levels of risk: elderly canecutters who have been denied retirement benefits and stateless workers . Because many of these individuals lack the documentation required to secure alternative employment, they remain trapped in a cycle of dependency on the plantations.
To address these systemic failures, the nonprofit has issued several specific demands to Central Romana Corporation. these include enrolling all workers in the national social security system, ensuring the payment of at least the minimum daily wage, and allowing employees to form independent unions. The organization also advocated for a worker-led code of conduct to protect the health and safety of those in the industry.
Central Romana's Rebuttal and the Missing Witnesses
Central Romana Corporation has officially contested the findings of the report, claiming the allegations are "riddled with inaccuracies and untruths." The company maintains that it has not violated any international labor standards or local laws within the Dominican Republic. this creates a significant evidentiary gap, as the report suggests a pervasive "climate of fear" prevents many workers from coming forward.
Several critical questions remain unanswered due to this lack of direct testimony. It is currently unverified how many workers are truly stateless, and the full extent of the alleged wage theft remains difficult to quantify because of the fear of retaliation.. While the U.S. department of Labor has previously described plantation living conditions as "inhumane and abusive," the company's denial stands in direct opposition to the claims made by the Corporate Accountability Lab and the fears expressed by the workers themselves.
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