Call center labor union spokespeople have taken their labor complaints to the press.
As reported, workers representing unions in the call centers Xerox, Vixicom/Provitel, Altice-Tricom, Convergys/Stream and Alorica say the companies that operate under the free zone regime are violating Dominican laws.
They complained they are harassed at work, the companies constantly make wage deductions, change the commission standards, carry out unauthorized deductions, there are violations of nighttime hours conditions, labor union discrimination, violations of maternity rules, social security law, unfair dismissals and violations of regulations on the work period and working hours. The abuses affect around 50,000 people employed at call centers nationwide. They say they are constantly threatened with job losses and that the companies would relocate to Central America and other countries were unionization is now required.
The union representatives said they are exempt from paying taxes and benefit by hiring thousands who are graduates of government programs to teach English as a second language, as reported in Hoy.
