Santo Domingo.– The Dominican Republic was ranked among the three countries in the Americas with the best levels of protection for collective labor rights, according to the 2026 Global Rights Index prepared by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The report places the country in category 2 of the global ranking, a position it shares with Barbados and which is only surpassed in the region by Uruguay, located in category 1.
The international assessment measures fundamental aspects such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, the right to strike, and access to labor justice in more than 150 countries.
In light of these results, the Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares Ortega, highlighted that the rating constitutes recognition of the progress achieved by the country in strengthening labor guarantees, social dialogue, and respect for the principles promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“This assessment reflects the efforts made by the Government, workers, employers, and public institutions to consolidate a climate of respect for labor rights and the permanent promotion of social dialogue,” the official stated.
Olivares pointed out that the ITUC Global Rights Index is one of the main international tools for assessing the quality of labor relations and respect for workers’ collective rights, which is why its results are taken into account by international organizations, investors, and various actors in the labor field.
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The minister highlighted that this positioning acquires greater relevance in an international scenario marked by the deterioration of trade union freedoms and labor rights in numerous countries, as warned by the most recent ITUC reports.
Likewise, it indicated that the position reached by the Dominican Republic represents an improvement compared to previous evaluations, evidencing progress in strengthening labor institutions and conflict resolution mechanisms.
The Ministry of Labor reaffirmed its commitment to continue promoting policies aimed at strengthening freedom of association, collective bargaining, occupational safety and health, as well as the effective protection of the rights of workers and employers.
“This result motivates us to continue moving forward to consolidate the Dominican Republic as a regional benchmark in terms of respect for fundamental labor rights,” concluded Olivares.
