The National Union of Firefighters (Unabon) is demanding that the President and the National Congress update the National Firefighters Law 51-10, which has been in effect since 1912. Their goal is to modernize the legal framework governing the fire-extinction service and secure significant improvements in their working conditions.
Firefighters are claiming their institutional “birth certificate” and a regulation that supports them in the face of unpredictable emergencies.
Unabon representatives held a press conference to request the update of the more than 113-year-old law. The head of the organization, Luis Elías Esmurdoc, explained that the current regulation “no longer responds to the current needs of the firefighters nor to the working conditions they face in the 21st century” to guarantee better service to the population.
The new draft bill, which has already been submitted and reintroduced to the National Congress, includes provisions for:
Salary increases.
Improvements in working hours.
Access to continuous training.
Medical insurance.
A dignified retirement system, with pensions up to 100% of the salary for those who meet the requirements.
The creation of a National Firefighters Agency, deemed crucial for organizing and coordinating firefighting services across the country.
Esmurdoc stated, “With this law, Dominican firefighters could finally have our true institutional birth certificate, one that allows us to serve better and live with dignity.”
While acknowledging the progress made, the leaders clarified that the most important element missing is a “law that formally and legally backs all those achievements.”
When asked about the most urgent needs, Unabon representatives stressed that all demands are equally important because firefighters face unpredictable and dangerous emergencies every day.
“There is no need to prioritize, because firefighters live different experiences every day. An earthquake doesn’t give notice, a tornado doesn’t give notice, neither does an explosion. A disaster can happen at any moment, and we have to be prepared,” said Esmurdoc.
In addition to fires, they highlighted chemical emergencies, structural collapses, and industrial accidents. They often respond to these without adequate equipment or sufficient training to handle hazardous materials.
They explained, “Right now the country is full of chemical products circulating without control, and many times we don’t know what kind of substance is being transported or how to act if a spill or an explosion occurs.”
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Diario Libre
5 November 2025