The Ministry of Labor has yet to issue the resolution establishing the per day wage for domestic work in the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Social Security of the Ministry of Labor Juan Estevez told Diario Libre reporters that people can figure the per day rate on the base of the new RD$10,000 per month minimum wage for domestic help. The Ministry of Labor mandated the minimum wage and that domestic help be included in the social security system on 1 September 2022.
Estevez told Diario Libre that people can divide RD$10,000 by 23.83 days of work per month (equal to 419.6) to come up with the RD$420 per day rate.
Special advisor to the Minister of Labor Javier Suarez explained that the RD$10,000 figure was reached after studies revealed the average household employee made RD$7,495 a month. “The idea is that it would be a higher salary than the normal average they have,” he said. He said the Labor Code also establishes that food and lodging are equivalent to 50% of the numeral salary, so that the minimum comes to around RD$15,000.
The Ministry of Labor says that people should draft a written contract. “What is true is that, even if it is written or verbal, the employer has to register that work with the Ministry of Labor,” He said.
Suarez says the Ministry of Labor is preparing a model employment contract that will be uploaded on the Ministry’s website to serve as a guide for interested persons. In addition, they will create a user-friendly page so that the employer of the domestic worker can make the registration by providing data such as names, ID number, salary to be paid and address, and this form will also function as a contract registration form.
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Diario Libre
7 September 2022