President Abinader receives recognition from the ILO in Geneva for support of workers' rights

Geneva, Switzerland.- President Luis Abinader received recognition this morning within the framework of the 113th International Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO), with the presence of the Dominican trade unions and international organizations that group more than 180 million workers worldwide.  The recognition of President Abinader is for the constant and decisive support of his government, to the rights, dignity and well-being of the Dominican working class, strengthening social dialogue, and promoting human and labor development in the country. This recognition was presented by Gabriel del Río, president of Human Development of the Autonomous Syndicalist Confederation Clasista (CASC); Pepe Abreu, from the National Confederation of Trade Union Unity (CNUS), and Jacobo Ramos, from the National Confederation of Dominican Workers (CNTD), during the Annual Forum of the World Coalition for Social Justice, as part of the 113th International Labour Conference of the ILO. In thanking for the recognition, the Dominican president said that it leads him to a greater commitment to continue moving forward with the country, advancing with the best practices, improving the quality of life of all Dominicans and for the good of democracy.

The president highlighted the good relations existing between his government, both with the union sector, and the employers.

In that sense, he said that those good relations are what have made the agreements and understanding possible. The Dominican head of state showed himself to be in favor of dialogue, indicating that this does not mean that there are no debates. It is the place to discuss differences, to reach an agreement. President Abinader defended the agreement reached on salary matters, stating that: “It is not a personal achievement. That would not have been achieved if we did not have a union sector that defends its interests but is prudent, and a business sector that defends its interests but with social commitments”.

Representatives of movements and trade union organizations present during the recognition

Along with representatives of the Dominican trade union movement, representatives of international trade union organizations also participated, such as Jordania Ureña, Deputy General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and Cicero Pereira Da Silva, Secretary of Education and Training of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), entities that bring together more than 180 million workers worldwide. In representation of the ILO, María Paz, principal advisor for Latin America to the director of this entity, was present at the recognition of President Abinader.

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Also, María Helena André, director of the ILO Workers' Activities Office (ACTRAV), and Luca Bormioli, director of the ILO Department of Meetings, Documents and Official Relations. A representation of the Dominican employer sector was also present at the activity, headed by Messrs. César Dargan, vice president of Conep; Mario Estuardo Pujols Ortiz, Executive Vice President of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, and Laura Peña Izquierdo, president of the Employers' Confederation of the Dominican Republic (Copardom). During the recognition of President Abinader, he was accompanied by the First Lady, Raquel Arbaje; the Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares; the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors to the Swiss Confederation, Pablo Valentín, and the permanent representative to the United Nations, in the Swiss Confederation, Iván Ogando. Also, his assistants Eilyn Beltrán, Noelia Shephard; the director of Cusep and head of his security Jimmy Arias, and the Press Director, Daniel García Archibald.