Employers in Dominican Republic face fines for hiring illegal foreign labor

Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) has warned that companies and individuals in the Dominican Republic who employ undocumented foreign workers may face significant financial penalties. Director General Luis Rafael Lee Ballester said the regulation applies to businesses, domestic employers, and agricultural producers who hire foreign labor without proper immigration documentation.

According to Lee Ballester, 112 companies have already been sanctioned for employing undocumented workers. Fines range from 15 to 20 minimum wages, depending on the severity of the violation. To obtain the Temporary Worker Permit (TT-1), employers must verify that foreign employees entered the country legally with the appropriate visa and register them with the Ministry of Labor and the Social Security Treasury (TSS) to ensure access to health insurance and occupational risk coverage.

Employers must also notify the General Directorate of Migration when a foreign worker is dismissed so authorities can determine the person’s immigration status. Lee Ballester added that the DGM is strengthening and decentralizing its services through offices in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Santiago to improve efficiency and expand nationwide support.