The Listin Diario reports today that if Congress approves the wage increase bill, those very members of the legislature will stand the most to gain. As was proposed by the Chamber of Deputies, the 30% increase for those making up to RD$90,000 a month would mean RD$27,000 more a month for the legislators. The increase entails an additional RD$10 billion that tax payers will have to fork over to fund the government employees’ wages.
The bill that is to have its second reading tomorrow in the Chamber of Deputies would establish a minimum wage of RD$4,000 for government employees, and wage adjustments of 30% for most others.
The Senate has already approved a bill that establishes a 30% increase for public and government workers.
The legislators have said, however, that they will revise the bill so as to not include the private sector, now that the employer and labor sectors have reached an agreement that called for a 30% increase in minimum wage and 25% increase in wages of those making up to RD$20,000, and who had not already received at least a 25% wage increase in 2004.