This will not stop them from shaking down gringos. They are still way below what we would consider a living wage. They will still be involved in illegal activities. I think many join because they think it is license to steal.
There is no quick and easy solution, it has to be a process. This process takes time, and should have already been in the works, but can still start now, with at LEAST a 5 point approach.
1. It is on the Dominican government to resolve this problem, and they need to want to. This starts by acknowledging that there is a problem. Without an acknowledgement, nothing will ever be resolved.
2. Yes, this pay raise was welcomed and much needed, but should be repeated in 12 months, in order to gradually try and level out the circumstances. If they wait another 5 years before acting it will be for naught. No, they will not be compensated like US or European organizations, but they could and should be paid at least a market living wage for the Dominican Republic. These positions need to be compensated correctly and fairly, in order for those that hold the positions to believe they actually hold some value, and would not want to jeopardize losing their jobs. Nobody wants to lose something that has value.
3. Corruption needs to be addressed. Start at the top, not at the bottom (see next point). When these higher level officials are caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Goodbye. Lose it all. No pension. Too many are caught red handed, and allowed to exit the back door with full pensions. So, what is the deterrent? Correct, there currently isn't one. Cut lose some of these higher ups who have been dirty for years. They leave with nothing, and people will start taking notice.
4. Continue addressing the corruption, also from the bottom. If somebody is caught dirty....fire them. Period. Not to be rehired in 5 or 10 years. Fired. Period. Punto. It's amazing how many rehires this agency has, which I believe is due to the dirty ones mentioned in point #3. The younger ones will start taking notice, and while also looking at the problem from the bottom on up, if they see their superiors are under the same microscope, changes will start to occur.
5. Advise tourists, foreign residents, expats that it is not acceptable to dish out money as such and if they do, they can be subjected to some sort of legal enforcement...ie: Attempted Bribery/Bribery. If this community believes enforcement will be taken against them, watch how fast the pesos stop passing hands.
Now, let's not get crazy now. In order to correct a problem, you need to admit there is a problem, and tackle it from all ends. So, this is a start. No, nothing in life is 100% fail safe or guaranteed, but you need to start somewhere.
