NewsWhore
06-23-2009, 03:20 PM
Leading labor expert, Vice President Rafael Alburquerque warned on Monday that according to the Labor Code the legal minimum wage has to be revised every two years. He said that this is why there could be no more delays and stalemates in the negotiations between labor and management.
He is optimistic that an agreement can be reached. The Vice President, who was involved in drawing up the current Labor Code, said that the stalemate that has held up the negotiations has to be overcome and a solution found.
Alburquerque said: "It is a question of finding a number, if it is going to be 20, 10, 12 or 15%. Whatever, it has to be done as fast as possible."
Interviewed at the Presidential Palace, Alburquerque pointed out that the Salary Law calls for an increase in the minimum wage, and if the minimum wage is increased, then there will be increases in the other salaries as well.
Alburquerque also talked about the government-sponsored Bono-Luz welfare program that is being worked out with the Superintendent of Electricity, Francisco Mendez, in the hope that the program can be implemented by July.
El Nuevo Diario interviewed Rafael (Pepe) Abreu, who chairs the labor sector negotiators at the meetings of the salary discussions. Abreu told reporters that if management was willing to offer an across-the-board 12% wage increase for all workers earning up to RD$30,000 a month, his people would accept such an offer.
At last notice, management had offered a 12% increase in the minimum wage for private sector employees.
Abreu mentioned that workers wanted a 25% wage increase for those earning less than RD$20,000 per month.
The president of the Dominican Management Confederation (COPARDOM), Marisol Vicens, has said that management is only willing to increase the minimum wage, as required by law.
Minimum wages in the Dominican Republic vary according to the size of the business or industry. The minimum wage at the larger companies is RD$7,360.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
He is optimistic that an agreement can be reached. The Vice President, who was involved in drawing up the current Labor Code, said that the stalemate that has held up the negotiations has to be overcome and a solution found.
Alburquerque said: "It is a question of finding a number, if it is going to be 20, 10, 12 or 15%. Whatever, it has to be done as fast as possible."
Interviewed at the Presidential Palace, Alburquerque pointed out that the Salary Law calls for an increase in the minimum wage, and if the minimum wage is increased, then there will be increases in the other salaries as well.
Alburquerque also talked about the government-sponsored Bono-Luz welfare program that is being worked out with the Superintendent of Electricity, Francisco Mendez, in the hope that the program can be implemented by July.
El Nuevo Diario interviewed Rafael (Pepe) Abreu, who chairs the labor sector negotiators at the meetings of the salary discussions. Abreu told reporters that if management was willing to offer an across-the-board 12% wage increase for all workers earning up to RD$30,000 a month, his people would accept such an offer.
At last notice, management had offered a 12% increase in the minimum wage for private sector employees.
Abreu mentioned that workers wanted a 25% wage increase for those earning less than RD$20,000 per month.
The president of the Dominican Management Confederation (COPARDOM), Marisol Vicens, has said that management is only willing to increase the minimum wage, as required by law.
Minimum wages in the Dominican Republic vary according to the size of the business or industry. The minimum wage at the larger companies is RD$7,360.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)