This Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the first meeting of the National Committee of salaries (CNS) at the Ministry of Labor, where the expected tripartite dialogue on the salary increase corresponding to this year.
During the meeting, the proposal presented by the government, which consists of a increase of 20 %, as announced by the President Luis Abinader.
The Trade union centrals They have made it clear that their proposal is oriented towards a increase 30 %.
In this context, the position of the Business sectorrepresented by the Patronal Confederation of the Dominican Republic (Copardom), chaired by Laura Peña Izquierdo.
In addition to Peña Izquierdo, at the table of negotiation They participate outstanding union representativesas Gabriel del Río Doñé, president of the Autonomous Confederation of Classist Trade Union (CASC); Rafael “Pepe” Abreu, president of the National Confederation of Trade Union Unit (CNUS); and Jacobo Ramos, president of the National Central of Dominican Workers (CNTD).
The first comments from the dialogue
Rafael Abreu, president of the National Confederation of Trade Union (CNUS), presented today that the Trade Union Proposal It is already clearly established: a increase 30 %.
According to Abreu, the Business sector You must present one proposal firm and negotiable, without evasive, to reach a agreement quickly.
“We do not expect many about to go; we want a proposal that is not insignificant “said Abreu, emphasizing that the discussion must focus on the minimum wage And not on other issues, such as TESTITYan issue already resolved in the Senate of the Republic.
The union leader stressed that the TESTITY It will not be part of the discussion Current, because it was previously addressed and is not part of the CNS agenda.
Abreu also stressed that the Trade Union Proposal Look for a substantial improvement in salary conditionstaking into account the current family basket.
Laura Peña Izquierdo, president of the Patronal Confederation of the Dominican Republic (COPRDOM), explained that the meeting Today was protocol and is focused on the swear of committee members.
Peña clarified that still They do not have one proposal concretesince they will first hear the presentations of the parties involved. “We came to listen to the proposals of the different sectors and, after that, we will do our assessment“he said.
- Also pointed out that the discussion today will limit only to minimum wagewithout addressing other issues such as TESTITY.
As for the amount of increasehe mentioned that so far two proposals have been submitted: one from the government, with a increase of at least 20 %, and another in the union sector, with 30 %.
The president of Copardom said they will take into account factors such as inflationthe productivity and the specific conditions of each sector to present their own proposal In the next meetings.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of a negotiation responsible, to consider both the needs of the workers as economic viability for employers.
To date, the increase was 19 % in several items
The last salary increase in the country was approved in 2023 for employees who earn the minimum salary of the non -sectorized private sector, in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code, which stipulates that this type of increase should be reviewed every two years.
The 2023 increase was 19 % and was applied in two phases: 15 % in April 2023 and 4 % in February 2024. In accordance with article 456 of the Labor Code, the National Salary Committee must review the Rate of minimum wages in each economic activity at least once every two years. The tripartite dialogue takes place in a context of labor reform, with a bill in the National Congress to modernize the Labor Code. A recurring theme in the debate is the assistance help: entrepreneurs seek to modify it, while the union centrals oppose and reiterate that they will not give in this right of workers.
