The union leaders Pepe Abreu, Gabriel del Río and Jacobo Ramos highlighted that the Law of Tax Modernization proposed by the government includes a plan compensation that could benefit workers if implemented as planned.
Among the measures they mentioned the increase in salary minimum in the public sector, increase in aids social benefits and the possibility for workers to save due to improvements in basic services.
The president of the National Confederation of Trade Union Unity (CNUS), Rafael -Pepe- Abreu, valued the increase in the salary minimum, but assured that it would have more impact if retirees and pensioners from the State who also earn a pension of 10 thousand pesos.
He also advocated for a salary increase for private sector workers and that it be extended to 30 thousand pesos since the entire economy would benefit because its purchasing capacity increases.
Regarding the indexing salary, maintained that the reform fiscal can contribute to helping Dominican workers “if it takes into account the need to comply with the Tax Code” and applies the indexing which has not been done since 2017.
“We say that, if that indexing will apply, the salary indexed today would be around the amount of approximately 54,000. And what would that do? That would benefit many technicians, professionals who work both in the State and in the private sector who would indirectly receive, just for that fact, a salary increase,” he pointed out.
Abreu maintained that the reform fiscal It is a mandate of the National Development Strategy law, but it had been postponed since 2012 and the time has come to do it”because this country cannot continue to go into debt for any work it is going to undertake because that indebtedness can lead to given to an economic collapse”.
For his part, the president of the Autonomous Classist Trade Union Confederation (CASC), Gabriel del Río Doñe classified the increase in salary minimum of the public sector, but indicated that instead of going from 10,000 to 15,000 pesos, it should be increased to 20,000 pesos, equally to the pensioners so that workers can have better living conditions.
“When it is said that salaries are going to improve, it is positive. When it is said that basic foods are not going to be covered with tax new, that is positive, when it is said that we will have more opportunities for more jobsthat’s positive,” he said.
Del Río pointed out that it is necessary that this modernization fiscal does not affect the poorest with increases in taxesbut that the greatest burden falls on the most rich.
“In a general sense it is necessary, urgent and important a reform integral so that Dominicans have the possibility of advancing because the country has to have its own resources. And whose? Of those who can most, of those who have the most resources, of those who can pay,” he said.
Meanwhile, the president of the National Central of Dominican Workers (CNTD), Jacobo Ramos, guaranteed that the effects of the reform there will be more positive How negative for the country.
“This reform It has the peculiarity that it comes with a compensation package that has to do with an increase in salary in the public sector, increase in salary in the private sector, an increase in the transfers that are passed on to the poorest and that then means that the impact that the reform It is not going to be as forceful as the reforms that have previously been made in the Dominican Republic,” he stated.
He also stated that an element that is not included in the proposal, but that must be incorporated, is the issue of extending the increase in the salary which is exempt from tax about income. “It remained at 34 thousand pesos and that is outdated 10 years ago and it is important that that part be updated in the construction project. reform“he declared.
He considered that the works that the Government will carry out with the expected revenues from this modernization fiscal They will come to benefit the population and they will be vigilant so that what is established is fulfilled.
“If there is greater security, that will mean greater investment in the Dominican Republic, which will, of course, generate jobs in the country. If we improve the system of transport that can be converted into savings for oneself salary of the workers. What we have to do is watch over this process of reform It is because the government applies the reform with the commitments that the company itself is proposing reform“he concluded.
