Ministry of Labor intensifies fight against child labor in San Francisco de Macorís
The Ministry of Labor carried out a significant prevention day against child labor at the Gregorio Luperón School, located in the Vista del Valle sector, in San Francisco de Macorís. This initiative is part of the institutional efforts to safeguard the fundamental rights of children and adolescents, preventing their premature entry into the labor environment.
The Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares Ortega, clarified that the selection of this sector for the intervention was not random, but the direct result of the Child Labor Risk Identification Model (MIRTI), a scientific tool that locates the areas with the greatest vulnerabilities in the country.
This location was selected based on the study conducted by MIRTI, which identifies territories at risk of child labor. Therefore, this day is not a response to a particular decision by those of us here, but rather to scientific research that allows us to direct our actions where there is a higher level of risk.
Eddy Olivares Ortega, Minister of Labor
Technological innovation for child protection
Olivares Ortega highlighted that, thanks to cooperation with international organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the institution has managed to modernize its inspection methods. According to the official, the country has moved from management based on perceptions to intervention grounded in precise data.
- Scientific approach: Use of MIRTI to identify real risks.
- Zero tolerance: Institutional policy aimed at the total eradication of child labor.
- Awareness: Talks aimed at parents, teachers, and community leaders on the importance of education.
Although the minister acknowledged that Dominican society has overcome much of the culture that normalized child labor, he emphasized that it is not the time to lower our guard. “Every child should be in school, protected, and with the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities,” he reiterated.
Community and multisectoral engagement
Hilaria Hilario Báez, Director of Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor, emphasized that the main objective is to ensure that minors understand that their stage of life corresponds to studying, playing, and dreaming. The event featured the participation of various authorities, including the governor of the Duarte province, Ana Xiomara Cortés Marte, representatives from the education sector, security agencies, and various state institutions.
With these types of activities, the Ministry of Labor reaffirms its commitment to maintaining constant coordination with national and international organizations, ensuring that the protection of Dominican childhood remains a priority on the public agenda.
