Labor Advisory Council resumes tripartite dialogue after a two-year hiatus
The Ministry of Labor has formally reactivated the Labor Advisory Council, a strategic space designed for dialogue, consultation, and social consensus among the Government, the business sector, and labor unions. After a period of approximately two years without meeting, this body seeks to address the most pressing socio-labor challenges of the Dominican Republic.
The meeting, led by the Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares, has the main objective of establishing a working group where each sector can present their concerns and proposals. During this first session, the agenda focused on cutting-edge topics such as the platform economy and the regulatory framework for telework, in addition to initiatives presented by the Employers’ Confederation of the Dominican Republic (Copardom) regarding the National Salary Committee.
Conflicting positions on labor reform
Although the reform of the Labor Code was not part of the official agenda for this first meeting, the issue remains a point of friction between the parties. Union representatives were emphatic in stating that they will not allow the right to severance pay or other sensitive points of the current labor legislation in force since 1992 to be touched.
If they mention that topic, the National Confederation of Trade Union Unity will get up and leave, and the minister knows that.
Rafael Pepe Abreu, leader of the CNUS
For its part, the business sector, represented by voices such as César Dargam of CONEP, positively valued the reactivation of the Council. Although Dargam acknowledged that labor reform was not on the immediate agenda, he reiterated that the employers’ position remains to promote a comprehensive modernization of the Labor Code to adapt it to the current needs of the market.
Participants in social dialogue
- Business Sector: Laura Peña Izquierdo (Copardom), César Dargam (CONEP), Luis Miura (CODOPYME), Aguie Lendor (Asonahores) and delegates from the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD).
- Union Sector: Rafael Pepe Abreu (CNUS) and Gabriel del Río (CASC).
The Labor Advisory Council, established through Decree 47-99, functions as a fundamental advisory body for the coordination of relations between capital and labor. The authorities reported that this meeting represents only the beginning of a series of sessions that will seek to build consensus on the future of employment in the country.
