Santo Domingo. - The Ministry of
Labor reported that during special operations focused on construction sectors in the National District, 15 construction projects were shut down for lacking safety and health measures, which put the physical integrity of the workers at risk.
As a result of the inspection days, 380 records were drawn up, of which 304 are warnings or warnings about non-compliance and 76 are infractions, such as lack of a joint health and safety committee; signage, provision of personal protective equipment; first aid kits and fire extinguishers.
While, in terms of violations of the Labor Code are the lack of a fixed personnel payroll and having it visible; presentation of the payroll of mobile or occasional personnel, nationalization of work, payment of the minimum legal wage, non-payment of vacations, extraordinary salary and no visitors' book.
These operations, carried out in 41 companies, respond to the Ministry of Labor's commitment to guarantee the safety and health of construction sector workers.
In that sense, the Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares, maintained that construction workers and the environment where the towers are built, must have safety, and the way to do it is by using the necessary equipment to prevent any type of accident.
Olivares also pointed out that the inspections aim to raise awareness and lead builders to strictly comply with the regulations governing safety and health in construction, as well as the rights of workers.
On the other hand, the Minister of Labor valued and welcomed the decision of the Dominican Association of Builders and Housing Promoters (Acoprovi), chaired by engineer Annerys Meléndez, with whom he maintains permanent contact, for their willingness to ensure compliance with safety and health in construction works and bring workers to formality.
For her part, Nicaury De la Cruz, coordinator of the Inspection operations, explained that at the time of the supervision of one of the towers, the fall of a worker was witnessed, without serious injuries, for not having the safety tools, thus demonstrating the importance of the application of Regulation 522-06, Resolution 04-07, the Labor Code, the Constitution of the Republic and the agreements with the International Labor Organization (ILO).
In that order, Héctor Romero, Hygiene and Safety coordinator, pointed out that according to the aforementioned regulation, the employer's obligation to protect the employee against occupational hazards was not fulfilled. He added "the constructions did not have lifelines, the workers were not equipped with the necessary protective equipment for their work, and the hazard signs were not in the area".
In addition, he indicated, they did not have safety kits, the stairs had inadequate railings, the perimeter of the tower did not have a fall railing, and the elevator shafts were open.
The Ministry of Labor reminded that Regulation 522-06 empowers the labor inspector to immediately order the necessary measures, including the suspension of activities, in case of imminent danger to the safety and health of workers.
According to Convention 81, in its article 13, labor inspectors are empowered to take measures to eliminate defects observed in the installation, assembly, or work methods which, in their opinion, reasonably constitute a danger to the health or safety of workers.
The Ministry of Labor is the highest administrative authority in all matters related to maintaining normalcy in production activities in the Dominican Republic, a role it exercises through the Inspection Department, which has the legal power to enter any company or establishment.
In the meeting where the statements were offered, Ángel Mora, Cabinet Director, Yuri Ruiz, Inspection Director, Pedro Gago and Juan Ramón Ventura, Advisors, among others, also participated.
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