Abinader highlights dignified work as key to shared prosperity at ILO Meeting

Punta Cana.- President Luis Abinader emphasized the importance of dignified and fair work as a driver of shared prosperity during the opening of the 20th American Regional Meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Punta Cana. He highlighted that economic growth must translate into better jobs, social mobility, a growing middle class, poverty reduction, and expanded opportunities for all.

Abinader described work as “identity, dignity, and freedom,” underscoring that true development in Latin America and the Caribbean should be measured by workers’ rights and quality of life, not just economic indicators. He noted that nearly half of the region’s 300 million-strong labor force works informally, without social security or guaranteed protections.

The president also highlighted the Dominican Republic’s progress in prioritizing employment within public policies. He pointed out that the country is leading economic growth in the region, outpacing the Latin American and Caribbean average, which the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) projects at just 1.9% this year.