Labor minister warns unions, employers on stalled wage talks

Santo Domingo.-Labor minister Maritza Hernandez on Wednesday warned that a second meeting of the NationalWage Committee will be called for next week, if employers and the unions failto submit their proposals to increase the minimum wage.

The talksbetween management and labor have been stalled since Thursday, when unionleaders walked out of the first meeting, claiming the employers’ “inflexibleposition.”

The unionsrejected management’s proposed 9.22% yearly increase and cautioned that they’llagree to meet again only with the National Wage Committee.

Hernandez saidan agreement should be reached as quickly as possible, "to benefit most ofthe population."