The Labor Minister has started a program to “dominicanize” work programs in the area of construction to try and ensure that more Dominicans work in the sector. The Ministry is seeking to fulfill the labor law provision stating that contractors must hire 80% Dominican staff, and only 20% can be foreigners.
The Committee for Inclusion of the Workforce in Construction was set up after meetings between Labor Minister Maritza Hernandez and representatives from the construction labor groups and with the Constructors and Housing Promoters Association (Acoprovi).
The commission members are Maritza Hernandez (chair), Miosotti Matos (coordinator), architect Maria Gaton, Hector Breton Sanchez and Manuel Croussette from Acroprovi, as well as Francisco Ramirez, Luis Medina, Felix Martinez and Luis Beltre.
The commission agreed to set up a database of people already in employment and a construction school to train people interested in working in the construction sector.
The unions promised to get the names of potential trainees and hand the list over to the commission so that they could begin to learn the trade.