Santo Domingo – More than a hundred business organizations, led by the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) and the Employers’ Confederation of the Dominican Republic (COPARDOM), reiterated this Thursday their rejection of the labor code reform project, approved in first reading by the Chamber of Deputies.
Through a joint statement, the unions expressed their “deep concern” at what they call a legislative initiative that disregards previously reached agreements in the tripartite dialogue between the Government, employers, and workers.
“The approved text introduces provisions that were not discussed and leaves out fundamental aspects to boost formal employment,” warned the business owners, while regretting the “haste” with which the Lower House has managed the process.
The employer sector insisted on the need for a labor reform that truly contributes to the generation of quality jobs, strengthens competitiveness, and is based on a technical and participatory approach. They assured they were open to dialogue, as long as it allows for sustainable consensus to be reached.
“This reform, in its current terms, represents a missed opportunity. In a challenging global context, the country needs signals of stability and a vision for the future,” they stated.
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The guilds called on Congress and the Executive Branch to act with prudence and to resume the tripartite dialogue as a legitimate way to build a modern, fair legal framework adapted to the new dynamics of the labor market.
The pronouncement was supported by associations from multiple productive sectors, including the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), the Dominican Association of Free Zones (ADOZONA), the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAMDR) and the Dominican Association of Exporters (ADOEXPO), as well as dozens of guilds from the financial, health, tourism, construction, energy and education sectors, among others.
