Santo Domingo.– The National Social Security Council (CNSS) announced the entry into force of the new Occupational Risk Insurance (SRL) Regulation, a regulation that expands coverage, strengthens workers’ rights, and modernizes the management of this important component of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS).
The general manager of the CNSS, Aura Celeste Fernández Rodríguez, highlighted that the regulation, approved through Decree no. 287-26, represents a significant advance in the social protection of workers by adapting the regulations to the current needs of the labor market and guaranteeing a more efficient, transparent, and member-centered response.
Among the main changes, the official highlighted that the regulation establishes clearer mechanisms for the submission of claims and appeals, which will allow for more effective access to insurance benefits and greater protection of workers’ rights.
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The regulation also redefines and clarifies the responsibilities of the institutions involved in the administration of Occupational Risk Insurance, including the Dominican Institute for the Prevention and Protection of Occupational Risks (IDOPPRIL), the Superintendence of Health and Occupational Risks (SISALRIL), the Social Security Treasury (TSS), and the Ministry of Labor.
Likewise, it incorporates more updated rules for the calculation of subsidies, indemnities, and pensions, guaranteeing more adequate economic protection for those affected by work-related accidents or occupational diseases.
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One of the most relevant aspects of the new regulation is the expansion of insurance coverage, by more precisely recognizing accidents that occur during the commute to work or on the way back home, as well as other situations directly linked to work activity.
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Fernández Rodríguez also pointed out that the regulation strengthens preventive actions through the implementation of risk management programs, monitoring systems, and indicators aimed at reducing the occurrence of occupational accidents and diseases.
Regarding financing, he explained that employer contributions are maintained, although improvements are introduced in risk classification and in the application of incentives or penalties based on the companies’ accident rates, promoting more efficient and equitable management.
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The regulation also incorporates provisions related to new employment modalities, such as teleworking, and contemplates protection measures for special groups of workers, adapting to the transformations experienced by the labor market in recent years.
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Among the innovations is also a specific protocol for the recognition and payment of funeral expenses, as well as mechanisms to guarantee the economic protection of workers who suffer work-related accidents during their first month of employment, even when the corresponding contributions have not yet been completed.
“The update of this regulation represents a transcendental step towards consolidating a more efficient, transparent, and results-oriented insurance, aligned with best practices and the mandate to guarantee effective protection for workers,” stated Fernández Rodríguez.
With this update, the CNSS reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the Dominican Social Security System, promoting greater equity in benefits, the prevention of occupational risks, and the sustainability of insurance for the benefit of all members.
