The trade union sector, the representatives of the private sector and the Government will meet today at 10 am in the National Wage Committee (CNS) of the Ministry of Labor, to discuss the increase in the non-sectorized minimum wage.
The trade unionists are already organized in commission and maintain their proposal to ask for a 35% increase so that workers can cope with the high prices of basic goods and continue to boost the economy at a time when the world is facing a slowdown.
Rafael Pepe Abreu said that the commission sworn in by the CNUS is made up of him as president of that union; Gabriel del Río, from the CASC; Jacobo Ramos, from the CNTD; Eulogia Family, Altagracia Jiménez, Sérgida Castillo, Santos Sánchez and Petra Hernández.
Unionists claim that still yesterday afternoon no one knew about the employers’ proposal. They say that each time these are presented with the figures of the Central Bank on inflation.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) stated yesterday that the union is open to dialogue. The directives of the business associations, including the CONEP, have been in the process of transition since the end of 2022. And they have just started the coordination of the business sector for the issues on the agenda.
He maintained that the Salary Committee has been convened and that since the representation of the employer sector has formal knowledge of the proposals, “we will be in a position to establish a position on the matter. As usual, we are open to dialogue, ”he added in response to Listín Diario.
union proposal
The trade union sector, in a 16-page document, proposes that the large companies that currently pay minimum wages of RD$21,000 pay RD$28,350; and medium-sized companies increase from RD$19,250 to RD$25,088.
The small companies that pay RD$12,900 pay RD$17,415; microenterprises go from RD$11,900 to RD$16,065, while guards and field workers go from RD$17,250 to RD$23,228 and from RD$500 per day to RD$675, respectively.
The CNUS bases its argument on the inflation impact in purchasing power, which from July 2021 to December 2022 already accumulated inflation exceeds 12.0% and with prospects of staying outside the target range of 4 + -1 of the Central Bank. They argue that while the cost of the basic food basket is RD$42,601 and the average monthly income is RD$20,634.9.
“Current conditions require a Salary readjustment that not only compensates purchasing power for accumulated inflation, but also incorporates labor productivity gains and a wage premium due to volatility in future prices”, they indicate.
They maintain that Accumulated inflation since the last salary readjustment has been 12.84% for the income of the first quintile; 12.76% for the second quintile and 12.17% for those in the third quintile, 11.49% for the fourth quintile and 10.77% for those in the fifth quintile (groups of families).
multiple axes
The trade unionists propose a tripartite pact to redefine labor income, anchor wages to the basic basket in the medium term, promote collective bargaining spaces from the State.
In addition, establish the freedom of union association and the reform of social security.
Salary policy
They believe that a redefinition of the salary policy in the country is necessary, hand in hand with compliance with labor regulations, in the direction of protecting and promoting labor rights.