A recent crackdown by the Dominican Ministry of Labor has unearthed over 300 labor violations across 13 businesses on Duarte Avenue in Santo Domingo, with Labor Minister Eddy Olivares Ortega specifically calling out foreign, particularly Chinese, employers for their “contempt” for workers’ rights and local labor laws.
The extensive operation, led by the Ministry’s Inspection Department, revealed 207 violations of the Labor Code and 123 breaches of Regulation 522-06 on Occupational Health and Safety. Olivares Ortega showcased the official warnings and photographic evidence, highlighting the severe risks posed to employees.
“All these violations run contrary to the employers’ obligation to guarantee an adequate and safe work environment as stipulated in our Constitution, Article 62.8; Article 436 of the Labor Code; Article 13 of Convention 81 of the International Labor Organization (ILO); and Article 13 of Regulation 522-06,” Minister Olivares stated.
Among the businesses cited were World House, Plaza Rudo, Motor Yxmr. SRL, Yind Fend SRL, Casa Liz, Ferretería tu Casa, Sandy Import, Comercial Yisco, Comercial Chagon, Supermercado Buen Precio, GTS Global, Rudo Motors, and Dola City. Olivares explicitly linked the high number of violations in these establishments to “the contempt of these foreign merchants against workers and Dominican labor standards.”
While the Ministry of Labor report doesn’t specify the nationality of all “foreign merchants,” Chinese-owned businesses have frequently been the subject of similar complaints in the past, and several of the named businesses (e.g., Yind Fend SRL, Comercial Chagon, World House) are commonly understood to be Chinese-owned or operated.
One alarming incident during the inspection involved a near-fire at one of the stores. Inspectors discovered a double-locked back door, which would have trapped workers inside, putting their lives in imminent danger.
Beyond health and safety concerns, inspectors also found widespread violations of the standard eight-hour workday, as mandated by Article 147 of the Labor Code. Olivares characterized this as “theft or lack of probity against the worker,” indicating that employers were effectively stealing from their employees by forcing them to work unpaid overtime.
The Minister emphasized that these businesses will be held accountable for ensuring workers’ safety and health, paying minimum wages, providing weekly rest days, and granting proper vacation time without resorting to abusive, excessive work hours.
Olivares Ortega issued a stern warning, declaring that “under no circumstances will violations against workers be tolerated in the Dominican Republic.” He affirmed that inspections would continue across various businesses, regardless of whether their management is Dominican or foreign, underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to upholding labor laws. The operation included inspectors from the Ministries departments of Inspection and Health and Safety Technicians.
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N Digital
1 July 2025