Labor Minister Luis Miguel De Camps García stated that, with the launch of the Labor Consultative Council's roundtable discussion, the commitment of President Luis Abinader's government to modernize the Dominican Republic's Labor Code has become a reality. The objective of this reform is to guarantee greater protection in the labor relations of Dominican workers.
De Camps García, participating as the keynote speaker at the Business Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR) in Higüey, maintained that among the important points to be discussed in this dialogue between employer, union, and government sectors are workers' rights, which, as a stabilizing element, must be respected.
"One of the reasons why there weren't more bankruptcies and unemployment in the Dominican Republic during the pandemic was unemployment," he added in his presentation titled "Challenges for the Future of Work." In this regard, he called on the business sector to present proposals that can improve their cash flow and build consensual transformations that benefit all sectors.
Another proposal put forward in this dialogue process is to transform the Ministry of Labor into a Ministry of Employment, Labor, and Social Security, to expand the functions it provides to Dominican society. Also proposed is the creation of the Workers' Welfare Institute, which will have a positive impact on the mental and physical health of Dominicans and provide an incentive to increase formal employment.
In another development, he praised the efforts made by the Ministry of Labor to implement public policies that contribute to increasing job creation without compromising workers' rights. In this regard, he said that, together with the Technical and Professional Training Institute (INFOTEP), and by holding job fairs throughout the country, they are working to design training programs so that Dominicans can fill the positions demanded by the labor market.
AMCHAMDR President: “English proficiency is key to employability and investment opportunities.”
Prior to the minister's presentation, Roberto Herrera, president of AMCHAMDR, acknowledged the government's initiatives that have allowed for the recovery of more than half a million jobs affected by the pandemic and pointed out some of the challenges the Dominican Republic faces in adapting to the new reality.
A key point, he noted, is the development of human talent, especially in English proficiency, to boost employment opportunities in many sectors and investment opportunities, especially for American companies.
In this effort, Roberto Herrera emphasized the need to bring universities and higher technical education closer to business, and highlighted the key role of INFOTEP in this work. "If we achieve this and modify the curriculum for Industry 4.0 and new technologies at different educational levels, including the development of competencies in emerging technologies and soft skills, I am completely confident that the Dominican Republic will become a major regional innovation center and thousands of quality jobs will be created."
Another challenge is revising labor legislation to take into account new forms of work. Significant steps have been taken toward this goal, such as the incorporation of digital signatures for signing teleworking contracts, a project AMCHAMDR has worked on in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of the Presidency.
In this regard, Herrera concluded, "from the Chamber, understanding that businesses are the engine that drives our economy, we advocate for policies and incentives focused on promoting and incorporating as many businesses as possible into the formal sector."
The meeting, held in the Musabell event hall, was attended by Frank Rainieri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo Puntacana; Francesca Rainieri, member of the Board of Directors of AMCHAMDR; Senator Virgilio Cedano; Provincial Governor Martina Pepen; Rafael Barón Duluc, Mayor of Higüey; Ernesto Veloz, President of the Eastern Hotels Association; Representatives Juan Julio Campos and Hamlet Melo; Máximo Aristy Caraballo, former National District Attorney; and Manolo Ramírez, Secretary General of the Autonomous Confederation of Class-Based Trade Unions (CASC-Higüey), among other business and government figures from the province of La Altagracia.
The Business Meeting was supported by the companies that make up AMCHAMDR's Elite Circle: AES Dominicana, Barrick Pueblo Viejo, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Citi, HIT Puerto Río Haina, Grupo Humano, Inicia; Grupo Marí, Grupo Rica, Grupo SID, and Squire Patton Boggs; and sponsored by Banreservas, DP World, Hospital IMG, and Banco Popular.
