Industry and Commerce achieves Great Place to Work® Certification™ for being a good place to work

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SMEs (MICM) received the Great Place to Work® Certification™, a recognition that evaluates the culture, trust, and work experience within organizations. With this distinction, the MICM becomes the only ministry with active certification in the entire Caribbean and Central America, consolidating itself as a regional benchmark in human resource management, institutional well-being, and excellence in the public sector, reaffirming the commitment of the management led by Minister Ito Bisonó to put people at the center of the transformations. A possible achievement from the public sector During the award ceremony, Minister Ito Bisonó stated that this recognition reflects "a management model that has placed the dignity, well-being, and development of the public servant at the center of institutional decisions." The minister highlighted that the MICM has managed to transform its work environment based on clear policies and sustained improvements: "Our commitment has been to ensure modern working conditions, decent internal services and an environment that allows each person to perform their role with confidence and professionalism." Furthermore, he emphasized that the certification confirms the institutional evolution of recent years: "This seal validates a collective effort to strengthen our processes, raise standards, and consolidate an organizational culture aligned with the values of public service." Great Place to Work® Caribbean and Central America highlights the level of commitment, cultural consistency, and organizational maturity of the MICM, stating that it constitutes a benchmark for other public institutions in the region.

An internal culture of active listening and well-being

The Great Place to Work® survey obtained a participation that statistically and methodologically meets the standards of this global consulting firm, and whose result was that 93% of its participating collaborators confirmed that the Ministry, in fact, is a Great Place to Work®, reflecting the high level of satisfaction of the collaborators with the organizational culture of the Ministry. This result adds to the historical performance of the work environment, an indicator that, as explained by Christopher de la Cruz, director of Management Control, went from 84% in 2021 to 90% in 2024, demonstrating the evolution of a culture based on active listening, positive leadership, and continuous improvement. As part of this vision, the MICM has promoted dialogue spaces such as Cafecito con el Ministro, which allows authorities and collaborators to get closer to listen to concerns and ideas. Furthermore, feedback channels have been strengthened, incorporating suggestion boxes, internal surveys, and reporting mechanisms that ensure transparency and effective participation. Comprehensive well-being has been a priority, as evidenced by actions such as the lactation room, complementary medical insurance, the subsidized institutional cafeteria, the renovation of ergonomic furniture, the continuous improvement of physical and technological infrastructure, and the telecommuting pilot program, which introduces flexibility and quality of work life. Similarly, the MICMAS benefits program expands employee access to discounts and services, reinforcing a tangible well-being policy. A trajectory marked by excellence and quality The Great Place to Work® Certification™ adds to an institutional path of excellence. The MICM is the only ministry in the country with an Integrated Management System that encompasses five active ISO certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 37001, ISO 37301, ISO 14001 and ISO 22301, placing it within the highest standards of the public sector. Furthermore, in 2024, it won the Gold Award of the Ibero-American Quality Award, establishing itself as the only ministry in Latin America to obtain it in the last decade. In this 2025, the MICM won Gold in the Digital Innovation category for Public Services, at the Latam Digital international awards. A recognition that reaffirms the institutional vision

Upon concluding his words, Minister Ito Bisonó reiterated that this recognition commits the Ministry to continue raising its standards of management and institutional quality, by stating that "we will continue to promote a public service model based on integrity, efficiency, and humane treatment towards our people and towards the citizenry".

He also reaffirmed the strategic role of human talent: "The advances we exhibit today are the direct result of the commitment and technical capacity of the MICM team. The certification is a reflection of that work."