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View Full Version : Unions lower demands?



NewsWhore
05-03-2011, 03:20 PM
This morning workers union representatives were scheduled to meet with Labor Minister Max Puig, who will present a study of the family basic needs basket for RD$10,819 that includes an inflation rate of 14.5% over the past two years.

According to Diario Libre, Puig met and presented the study to the management sector last Friday. Management Confederation president Jaime Gonzalez said that the document as a proposal is very correct. Gonzalez insisted that that they are open to dialogue and hope that this week or next some agreement on the minimum wage is reached.

Meanwhile, union leader Rafael Abreu said that they would go to the meeting. He made the point that since there are more than 16 minimum wage levels, dialogue with management is required, because this issue needs some readjustment. He said that these talks should take place every year instead of every two because of the continuous increases in fuel and food prices.

The union leader presented a new proposal, subject to consultation within the unions, which consists of a 25% increase in the minimum wage and a 20% increase for inflation on salaries up to RD$30,000 that is the limit on salaries exonerated from paying income taxes. He says that this bargaining should be done outside of the scope of the National Committee on Salaries.

The study that Puig will present to the unions states that 1.6 million workers were affiliated to the social security system in 2010, of whom 17.3%, or 288,652 employees, earn less than RD$4,900. Workers who earn more than RD$5,158 and less than RD$8,465 represent 21.1%, of the workforce, i.e. 351,154 workers. In total, 902,135 workers, or 54.1% earn between less than RD$4,900 and RD$8,465, which is the highest minimum wage, while 46%, or 735,680 workers, earn more than RD$8,465 and less that RD$51,580.

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