Alburquerque criticizes senate tip law, warns delivery workers and consumers will suffer

Santo Domingo.- Former Vice President Rafael Alburquerque criticized a recent Senate amendment to the Labor Code, warning it will hurt both consumers and delivery workers. The law mandates a 10% tip on food deliveries, which Alburquerque said will increase costs for customers ordering pizza, hamburgers, and other meals.

Alburquerque noted that tips are currently voluntary and based on service satisfaction. The new law, however, forces customers to pay the 10% tip, allowing food delivery companies to reduce workers’ wages under the pretext that they receive tips. He added that this could also reduce workers’ benefits, as tips are excluded from severance calculations.

The former Labor Minister also warned of potential disputes with digital delivery platforms, which typically do not include tips in transactions. He condemned the Senate’s move as prioritizing business owners over workers, concluding, “That’s called the Senate serving capital.”