Workers in industrial free zones are asking for a salary increase of 30% and to be included in government housing programs as well as other demands.
The workers, who belong to the Fenatrazonas, Unatrazonas and Futrazonas unions, among others, are asking for the raise to be backdated to 1 June 2013.
Speaking at a press conference, Fenatrazonas vice president Santos Sanchez said that as the free zone owners have seen an increase in profits with the depreciation of the peso, the workers should also benefit because they are the ones who do the work.
Sanchez also called for workers to be included in government housing schemes, subsidized state canteens, student scholarships for their children and the option of technical studies at the National Technical and Professional Training Institute (Infotep).
He said that he would be meeting representatives of the Dominican Free Zones Association (Adozona) today, Wednesday 18 September to present their demands in person, and if they were not met they would begin picketing and demonstrating.
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2013/09/17/i402689_trabajadores-zonas-francas-exigen-aumento-salarial.html