U.S supports Dominican action against allegedly illegal Chinese factory

The United States government praised Dominican authorities for shutting down a Chinese-managed cardboard factory in Santo Domingo that was allegedly operating illegally, while urging foreign companies to comply with local labor laws and regulations.

Juan Pablo Segura, the U.S. State Department official overseeing Latin America, commended the Dominican authorities in a social media post reproduced by the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic.

“We commend the authorities of the Dominican Republic for taking decisive action to shut down a large cardboard factory that was operating illegally in Santo Domingo under Chinese management,” Segura said.

Although he did not identify the company or provide further details about the facility, Segura said authorities should not tolerate unlicensed operations, illegal fuel storage or the improper hiring of foreign workers to circumvent labor regulations.

“A true economic alliance requires transparency, fair competition and respect for the rule of law,” he added.

The U.S. statement comes weeks after the Dominican Ministry of Labor ordered the suspension of operations at 24 Chinese-owned companies considered an “imminent danger” to workers’ safety and well-being.

The measure, announced on October 20 by Labor Minister Eddy Olivares, followed inspections of 101 establishments owned by Chinese citizens. Authorities reported violations involving labor rights, weekly rest, bonuses and overtime payments, as well as occupational health and safety standards.

Inspections also found that 33 companies were not complying with Dominican labor regulations governing the employment of foreign workers. Dominican law requires companies to maintain a workforce composed of at least 80% Dominican nationals, with foreigners accounting for the remaining 20%.

The U.S. government’s comments come amid increased scrutiny of Chinese-owned businesses operating in the Dominican Republic and highlight Washington’s call for transparency, legal compliance and fair competition in bilateral economic relations.