Following CES report delivery, lawmakers insist on regulating Haitian labor in DR

Santo Domingo. – Dominican lawmakers reiterated this Tuesday the need to establish clear mechanisms to regulate the hiring of Haitian labor in the country, after the delivery to President Luis Abinader of the Final Consolidated Report of the Dialogue for the Haitian Crisis and its implications for the Dominican Republic, prepared by the Economic and Social Council (CES). The document, the result of six thematic tables in which representatives from the social, labor, business, and organized civil society sectors participated, as well as delegates from the president and the three former presidents of the Republic, was delivered during an event headed by the president of the CES, Rafael Toribio, at the National Palace at 4:00 in the afternoon. According to Toribio, the final report of the dialogue on Haiti, delivered this Tuesday to President Luis Abinader, includes proposals aimed at regulating foreign labor, in order to establish mechanisms that allow a more orderly and controlled management of the employment of migrant workers in the country. In that sense, the deputy of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Ramón Mayobanex Martínez, said that the agricultural and industrial sector needs Haitian labor, which is why it is necessary for these foreigners to be properly regularized for such purposes. “The Dominican Republic needs agricultural labor, the construction and industrial sectors need labor, and we cannot be in a situation of illegality of foreigners in the Dominican Republic, whoever works, whoever labors must be regularized and if they do not have regular immigration status they must be out of the country”, explained Martínez. On his part, the deputy Elías Wessin Chávez, from the Christian Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQDC), expressed his hope that the proposals contained in the report will contribute to achieving the expected results to reduce the uncertainty facing the Dominican people regarding the Haitian situation.

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He pointed out that the crisis in the neighboring country directly impacts the national economy, which —according to what he stated— cannot support 10 million Haitians, as, in his opinion, some international organizations intend. For the deputy of Dajabón, Tony Bengoa, the fundamental aspect is that instead of carrying out a regularization plan, a formalization plan should be carried out, so that those who hire that labor are responsible for that foreigner and not the State. “When we regularize, we grant all the privileges of a citizen, we would be giving it to them, we have to talk about formalizing employment, formalizing it through an employment contract from a company hiring a migrant with a permit issued by immigration,” he pointed out.

The report will be delivered to former leaders in the coming days

In order to ensure an orderly management of foreign labor and protect the local labor market, the congressmen advocated for greater coordination between the immigration authorities, the Ministry of Labor, and the business sector. The CES report will serve as a reference base for designing public policies focused on border security, migration management, labor hiring, and humanitarian assistance, amid the complex situation facing the neighboring country. As part of the socialization and consultation process, the CES will deliver the report to the former presidents of the Dominican Republic, on a schedule that will be developed as follows: Wednesday, September 10, 10:00 a.m., delivery to former President Danilo Medina; Thursday, September 11, 4:00 p.m., delivery to former President Hipólito Mejía; and Tuesday, September 16, 10:00 a.m., delivery to former President Leonel Fernández.