The labor representatives in minimum wage talks have walked away from the discussions under the National Wage Commission (CNS) that are being chaired by the rector of the INTEC University, Rolando Guzmán. The talks have coincided with the Executive Branch sending to Congress a bill that would close the Dominican Social Security Institute. The shutdown is long pending.
Now the Medina administration proposes to create another high-wage paying government entity. The National Labor Risk Institute would be charged with the issues surrounding workers’ compensation after dismissal (cesantía) or severance pay.
While the CNS jurisdiction is limited to reaching agreements for increases in minimum wage, changes to the Labor Code are taking a front seat in the discussions.
The union representatives have maintained they are standing firm to their stance for no changes to severance payments as contemplated in the present Labor Code (Law 16-92) that dates back to 1992. The labor representatives say this issue is non-negotiable.
As a first step to emphasize their firm position, the union leaders say that on Wednesday, 10 April 2019, they would stage a huge march between Enriquillo Park and the Presidential Palace. They called upon all workers, both unionized and non-union to take part in the protest.
The position of the business sector is that the Labor Code needs to be amended to bring it up-to-date and be more flexible in order to stimulate business. The business sector says it is preparing a proposal that will be presented in the future. Pedro Brache, president of the National Business Council (Conep) said the business sector did not part in drafting the bill that proposes a new National Labor Risk Institute.
In an editorial on Monday, 1 April 2019 in Diario Libre, managing editor Inés Aizpún highlights that all eyes are on the changes to the Labor Code that she describes as “obsolete”.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
1 April 2019