The Dominican Management Confederation (Copardom) says they will go ahead with reclassifying companies with or without the participation of labor unions. Juan Alfredo de la Cruz, president of Copardom, criticized the labor unions for walking out of talks and refusing to address the reclassification established in Social Security Law 87-01.
The business sector had lobbied for reclassifying businesses as a condition for approving the minimum wage increase. Recently, however, the government agreed with the labor unions on a 14% increase and that reclassification talks would start in 60 days.
Now, Copardom says if unions continue to object the reclassification, they do not need to be present. De la Cruz says the reclassification is a manufacturing procedure and not a labor issue. Companies seek more flexible minimum wages.
Jacobo Ramos, president of the workers union, the CNTD (Central Nacional de Trabajadores Dominicanos), insists the reclassification would reduce wages. He said this violates the Dominican Constitution and International Labor Organization agreements signed by the country.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
El Nacional
5 August 2019