Story perspectives

Report Finds Forced Labor on Central Romana Sugar Plantations

8/19/2026

Summary

Corporate Lab Exposes

Corporate Accountability Lab released a report that forced labor continues on Central Romana’s sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic.
The three-year probe documented 8,000 workers on 173,700 acres, many Haitian migrants living without water or electricity.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection accused the firm of isolating workers, withholding wages and overtime.
The nonprofit urged Dominican government to regularize immigration status and to have buyers adopt a code of conduct.

Summary

Dominican Ministry Expels

Dominican Foreign Ministry ordered nine Cuban embassy staffers to leave by Aug 16 under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention, without declaring them persona non grata.
Cuba’s Foreign Ministry called the order a “submission” to U.S. pressure tied to President Donald Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative.
Dominican sources alleged the diplomats were gathering intelligence.
Officials said the expulsions were unrelated to the defection of five athletes.

History

Historical Context

The United States seized control of the Dominican Republic in May 1916, installing a Marine-run military government that built three major roads, created the Dominican Constabulary Guard and kept up to 3,000 troops, of whom 144 were killed. The occupation’s forced-labor sugar economy and U.S.-backed banks set a pattern echoed in today’s Central Romana disputes and the 2024 expulsion of Cuban diplomats.

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Corporate Lab Exposes

Corporate Accountability Lab released a report that forced labor continues on Central Romana’s sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic.
The three-year probe documented 8,000 workers on 173,700 acres, many Haitian migrants living without water or electricity.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection accused the firm of isolating workers, withholding wages and overtime.
The nonprofit urged Dominican government to regularize immigration status and to have buyers adopt a code of conduct.

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