Several associations of school food suppliers announced they will be suspending meal service to public schools as of Thursday, 3 February 2022. The associations say the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) is behind in payments for their services and they cannot afford to continue the services. The National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) is a decentralized agency, attached to the Ministry of Education.
The associations that have announced the suspension are:
Suplidores y Proveedores de Alimentos a las Escuelas de República Dominicana, (ASUPLIDERD); Unión Nacional de Suplidores de Almuerzo Escolar, (UNSAE); and Suplidores De Tanda Extendida de Barahona, (ASOSATEBA). The associations say only those who can afford to do so will continue.
The associations are appealing to President Luis Abinader to take action. They say they have made all efforts with the Inabie and the Ministry of Education to be paid. “Multiple promises that have been made to us to resolve the situation have not been met,” say the organizations.
The press release on the arrears states that the Inabie owes some companies more than a year. The associations protest the Inabie has not made the advance payment mandated in Small Business Law 340-06.
The associations also protest that from 2013, per unit lunch prices have only increased from RD$40 to RD$49. They say this fixed price is unsustainable due to the recent increases.
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N Digital
El Caribe
DR1 News
2 February 2022