NewsWhore
07-09-2009, 03:30 PM
Although management and government representatives approved a 15% increase in the minimum wage without the approval of labor representatives, there are still 16 special resolutions pending at the Ministry of Labor. The resolutions are for the sectored private sector - including tourism and free zones - and some of these are due for discussion shortly.
The salary increase that was approved was for the non-sectored private sector, retroactive to 1 June, and covers all legal businesses and industries that do not have a special resolution, but does not include hotel, construction or free zone workers. According to the head of the National Salaries Committee (CNS), Gloria Henriquez, if each sector were to apply a different salary rate, it would take over a year to review the situation. This is why there are non-sectored and sectored divisions.
Of the 17 resolutions that the Ministry of Labor has issued, the largest and broadest covers practically all the businesses that are not in a specific sector and is designated the non-sectored private sector.
"Right now we have pending the start of the review process for the construction sector that deals with man-hours, and this includes several sub-sectors, such as iron workers, plumbers, masons and electricians," said Henriquez.
Also pending are the wage increases in the hotel and restaurant sector, and soon these talks will begin since invitations have gone out to all the parties involved.
Likewise, the issue of the industrial free zone workers is pending and will also begin to be discussed. This group has two sub-sectors: Normal free zones and the free zones located in economically depressed areas.
The minimum wage in the free zones is lower than the wages in the non-sectored private sector. In general, the minimum salary to be discussed in the sectored private sector is lower than the minimum wage approved for the non-sectored private sector. On the other hand, the minimum wage in the construction sector is not lower, but the list is quite long.
Wages in the hotel and restaurant sector are slightly lower than the non-sectored private sector.
Wages at NGOs have a special resolution.
The official told Diario Libre reporters that workers who have not yet received wage increases are in sectors covered by special resolutions.
The National Center for Union Solidarity (CNUS) is thinking about filing an appeal against the resolution issued by the National Salaries Committee (CNS) that authorizes a minimum wage increase of 15%.
According to CNUS leader Rafael Abreu, the CNS should be changed to make it more efficient. Another option would be a suggestion from Deputy Angel Acosta (now of the PRD) who has a legislative proposal called the Law of Salary Indexing, which suggests that salaries could be indexed on a yearly basis. The CNUS will not challenge the 15% wage package.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
The salary increase that was approved was for the non-sectored private sector, retroactive to 1 June, and covers all legal businesses and industries that do not have a special resolution, but does not include hotel, construction or free zone workers. According to the head of the National Salaries Committee (CNS), Gloria Henriquez, if each sector were to apply a different salary rate, it would take over a year to review the situation. This is why there are non-sectored and sectored divisions.
Of the 17 resolutions that the Ministry of Labor has issued, the largest and broadest covers practically all the businesses that are not in a specific sector and is designated the non-sectored private sector.
"Right now we have pending the start of the review process for the construction sector that deals with man-hours, and this includes several sub-sectors, such as iron workers, plumbers, masons and electricians," said Henriquez.
Also pending are the wage increases in the hotel and restaurant sector, and soon these talks will begin since invitations have gone out to all the parties involved.
Likewise, the issue of the industrial free zone workers is pending and will also begin to be discussed. This group has two sub-sectors: Normal free zones and the free zones located in economically depressed areas.
The minimum wage in the free zones is lower than the wages in the non-sectored private sector. In general, the minimum salary to be discussed in the sectored private sector is lower than the minimum wage approved for the non-sectored private sector. On the other hand, the minimum wage in the construction sector is not lower, but the list is quite long.
Wages in the hotel and restaurant sector are slightly lower than the non-sectored private sector.
Wages at NGOs have a special resolution.
The official told Diario Libre reporters that workers who have not yet received wage increases are in sectors covered by special resolutions.
The National Center for Union Solidarity (CNUS) is thinking about filing an appeal against the resolution issued by the National Salaries Committee (CNS) that authorizes a minimum wage increase of 15%.
According to CNUS leader Rafael Abreu, the CNS should be changed to make it more efficient. Another option would be a suggestion from Deputy Angel Acosta (now of the PRD) who has a legislative proposal called the Law of Salary Indexing, which suggests that salaries could be indexed on a yearly basis. The CNUS will not challenge the 15% wage package.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)