During the week of August 17-22, 2026, the National Old-Age Insurance Office (ONA) highlighted three major areas of its work: strengthening institutional cooperation around retirement and pensions, supporting young people through the 2025-2026 National Internship Program, and promoting a culture of social security among stakeholders in the cultural and artistic sectors.

As part of strengthening social security in Haiti, the ONA and the Ministry of Economy, particularly through the officials responsible for the Civil Service Pension, held a working session focused on establishing cooperation and coordination mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of experiences, harmonize certain approaches, and improve the support provided to workers in preparation for their retirement.

The National Old Age Insurance Office (ONA) announced the launch of the 2025-2026 National Internship Program, a one-month program within the framework of the national internship system established by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. Aimed at students residing in Haiti, this program seeks to facilitate their socio-professional integration through practical experience in a professional setting and an introduction to careers related to social security in Haiti. Participants will receive supervision within the departments to which they are assigned and will be evaluated on their work skills, innovative spirit, adaptability, and efficiency.

On August 20, 2026, at the Oasis Hotel, Lovely François, Director General of the ONA, participated in a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Tourism, honoring Tabou Combo and Tropicana d’Haïti, two major figures in Haitian musical heritage. A special tribute was paid to Roger M. Eugène, known as “Shoubou,” an emblematic figure of Tabou Combo. The ONA emphasized that recognizing long artistic careers must also be part of a broader discussion on the protection and dignity of workers upon retirement, particularly in the cultural and artistic sectors.

IH/ iciHaiti