Father Christopher Hartley campaigns for sugar cane workers

Father Christopher Hartley has been advocating for the rights of sugar cane plantation workers in the Dominican Republic for years. His work has been divisive, but the U.S. Department of Labour is now involved with his cause.

Father Hartley documented the treatment of migrant workers, most of them from Haiti, who came to the Dominican Republic for work. They ended up labouring in huge plantations, cutting sugar cane.

Some have nothing to go back with. Some have nothing to go back to.Father Christopher Hartley

His work wasn't always welcome. Father Hartley was such a divisive character, that in 2006, the local Catholic Bishop asked him to leave the country. But his campaign to improve the lives of sugar cane plantation workers in the Dominican Republic continues.

Father Christopher Hartley is a Catholic priest now based in Ethiopia.

In addition to asking the industry for a response, we reached out to the Dominican Republic's Ambassador to Canada, but did not hear back.

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This segment was produced by The Current's Elizabeth Hoath.