Santo Domingo.– The Special Commission of the Senate of the Republic studying the Labor Code met this Tuesday, separately, with a large representation of the union sector and with representatives of the employer sector.
The piece was reintroduced and the meetings are held to comply with the regulations of the Upper House, as explained by the president of the commission, Senator Rafael Barón Duluc, who also maintained that the aim is to submit the report to the Senate plenary in the shortest possible time.
“The constitutional process establishes that if it expires, the process must be exhausted again, although in practice it is faster,” he said.
Senator Duluc stated that basically the same points are being debated and the project that has already been approved is taken as a reference, but that now, they intend to correct some issues such as the setting of fines that has been requested by different groups, “but basically it is to review everything completely, even if it is faster”.
In representation of the employers, the vice president of the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), César Dargam, said that they want it to be a transcendental reform so that the country has modern legislation in line with these times.
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Dargam indicated that they are seeking the modernization of procedures, the digitalization of some procedures contained in current legislation, the revision of elements that have become outdated over time and should be reviewed, as well as incorporating regulations.
The business leader acknowledged that the most controversial issue has been severance pay and stated that they are not clinging to a position. “At no time have we requested here that it be eliminated, but rather we have presented different options that respect the acquired rights of workers, generate greater certainty and can contribute to the formality of the labor market in the Dominican Republic.”
Representatives from the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), the Dominican Association of Exporters (ADOEXPO), the National Organization of Commercial Enterprises (ONEC), the Dominican Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CODOPYME), the Dominican Association of Free Zones (ADOZONA), the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), the Association of Hotels and Tourism (ASONAHORES) and the Dominican Association of Builders and Housing Developers (ACOPROVI) also participated in the meeting.
The leader of the National Central of Union Unity (CNUS), Rafael -Pepe- Abreu, recognized the work of the Special Commission and highlighted that the fact that the initiative has been reintroduced through the commission indicates that in the country there will be a Labor Code that will not be a union victory, but of the whole nation.
Abreu positively valued the commission’s leadership, stating that it has managed to overcome all the contradictions debated around the piece and said he trusts that they will bring the initiative to a successful conclusion.
“We thank the commission and reiterate our confidence,” he maintained.
Representatives from the Autonomous Syndicalist Confederation (CASC), the National Confederation of United Transporters (CNTU), and the National Confederation of Dominican Workers (CNTD) participated alongside Pepe Abreu.
Senators Pedro Catrain, María Mercedes Ortiz, Eduard Espiritusanto, and Cristóbal Venerado Castillo were also present.
