Business owners call on congressmen to prudently review the current labor code reform

The National Organization of Commercial Enterprises (ONEC) urged lawmakers to review with prudence, openness, and a sense of economic reality the labor code reform project, warning that some changes and omissions could distance the country from a truly modern, balanced labor reform aimed at generating formal employment.

The entity expressed concern because consensus reached during the dialogue process would not be fully reflected in the version currently under discussion, while fundamental aspects remain pending to modernize the Dominican labor framework and adapt it to the new productive and employment dynamics.

ONEC called for objectively listening to the approaches of the productive sectors and carefully evaluating the impact that certain provisions could have on hiring costs, the competitiveness of companies, especially SMEs, and the sustainability of formal employment.

The organization recalled that, in a country where approximately 54% of workers remain in the informal sector, any labor reform should prioritize expanding formalization opportunities and facilitating the creation of new jobs, avoiding measures that may discourage formal hiring or increase labor market rigidity.

Likewise, he considered it essential that the reform incorporate tools that promote greater productivity, flexibility, and adaptation to new ways of working, in line with international trends and the current needs of the Dominican economy.

Finally, ONEC reiterated its willingness to continue contributing to a balanced and sustainable reform, which strengthens labor rights, promotes formalization, and preserves the country’s ability to attract investment and generate quality jobs.