A large number of Dominican private companies have increased the wages of their employees, by a range of 22% to 40% so far this year, according to a survey of businesses, says the Listin Diario. Elena Viyella, the president of the National Business Council, said that the adjustments that the companies have already made should be taken into account if a new general wage authorization is enforced by law.
The Chamber of Deputies will hold a public hearing on Monday regarding the general wage increase. Deputies Cristian Paredes and Hector Mora advocate a 25-30% wage rise, while a labor union proposal calls for a 60% increase to those earning less than RD$20,000 a month. Most business sectors are not in favor of a Congressionally legislated wage increase across the board.
Advocates of the wage increase point to the 32% inflation this year and the index of consumer prices from December 2002 to August 2004 that increased 89%.