Senate approves law against forced labor to boost Dominican exports

Senate passes law prohibiting the import of products made with forced labor

During a special session held in the municipality of Bonao, Monseñor Nouel province, the Senate of the Republic unanimously approved the bill that establishes the prevention and prohibition of the entry into Dominican territory of goods produced through forced labor.

The legislative piece, proposed by the senator for the San Juan province, Félix Bautista, has as its main objective to safeguard ethics in supply chains and strengthen the competitive position of Dominican products in the international market, especially in the United States.

Economic impact and competitiveness

One of the key points of this regulation is its impact on the export sector. As Senator Bautista explained, the country was facing an additional 2.5% tariff on its products exported to the United States due to the absence of specific legislation on this matter. It is estimated that this tax burden represents nearly 180 million dollars annually, equivalent to about 10.8 billion Dominican pesos.

The approval of this law not only protects labor rights but also grants the Dominican Government the ability to negotiate with U.S. authorities for the elimination of this additional tariff, significantly improving the competitiveness of our exports.

Definition and scope of the regulations

The bill defines forced labor as any work exacted under the threat of penalty, sanction, or without the worker’s voluntary consent. To identify these practices, the law includes specific indicators such as:

• Abuse of vulnerability and deception.
• Restriction of movement and isolation.
• Physical, sexual violence, intimidation or threats.
• Retention of identity documents or wages.
• Debt bondage and abusive working conditions.
• Unjustified excessive overtime.

Responsible institutions

The implementation and oversight of this law will fall upon a set of state institutions, including the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, and the General Directorate of Customs. These agencies will be responsible for designing the necessary action protocols to ensure compliance with the regulation.

The legislation is based on international conventions 29 and 105 of the International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as on the commitments assumed within the framework of the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement, ensuring that the Dominican Republic aligns itself with global standards of human rights and fair trade.