Industries agree with wage hike, but SMEs weigh

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic Industries Association (AIRD) president Campos de Moya on Thursday said he has always agreed with a salary increase, as long as the SMEs are taken into account.

“I agree that wages should be raised, but we must be consistent, especially with small and medium-sized businesses. If we take irresponsible actions to be complacent, we can be putting many people who need work at risk,” said the businessman during the breakfast,  Productive Development Plans,” at Torre Empresarial.

He said management’s proposed to 9% increase of the minimum wage is twice Dominican Republic’s inflation rate.

He also noted that most AIRD member companies pay above the minimum wage.

On the unions’ warning of protests against employers if they don’t raise wages by 30%, de Moya said labor are free to do what they feel because that’s the reason for unionizing. He noted however that it would be unfortunate if they took such extreme measures when management is in talks with them.

The current resolution establishes minimum monthly wage in large companies of RD$12,873; medium and small companies at RD$8,850 and RD$7,843, respectively.