Pétion-ville, May 16, 2026.- In a context where unemployment and lack of opportunities continue to stifle Haitian youth, the government reinforces its offensive against occupational exclusion through the Youth Employment Initiative (YEIP). This Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Ritz Kinam Hotel, the Ministry of Economy and Finance formalized a strategic partnership with the private sector to offer paid internships to young Haitian graduates.
At the ceremony, Minister of Economy and Finance Serge Gabriel Collin signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the MEF and the Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIO). Under this agreement, about 50 young graduates from universities and vocational schools will be integrated into the CCIO and its business networks to conduct three-month paid internships funded by the Treasury.
This initiative aims to address one of the main obstacles faced by young people in Haiti: the lack of work experience. Many graduates struggle to enter the labour market, even though employers require prior experience. Through PIJE, the government is trying to create a first bridge between young skills and the professional world.
The programme is also seen by the authorities as a tool for social prevention in the face of growing instability in the country. Mass unemployment, idleness and lack of prospects fuel frustrations, the exodus of young people and sometimes social violence. For Minister Serge Gabriel Collin, investing in youth employment also means investing in the country's economic and social stability.
The MEF stated that these recipients are part of the second cohort of the program after its relaunch in March 2025. Between January and March 2026, 208 young people had already been deployed to public sector institutions. Since the revival of PIJE by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé through Circular 008, a total of 522 young people have already benefited from the programme.
Through this new phase of the EYIP, the government hopes to strengthen collaboration between the state and the private sector in order to provide more opportunities for young people facing a persistent employment crisis and a future often marked by uncertainty.
W.A.
