Rafael 'Pepe' Abreu. File photo.
SANTO DOMINGO.- The country’s unions showed great expectation yesterday on this week’s response from business leaders, to their demand that companies raise their employees’ wages.
The unions grouped in CNUS said their position is still to demand a 50 percent increase for workers who earn less RD$30,000 per month and are confident they’ll reach an agreement in their meeting with the Dominican employers grouped in Copardom on Thursday, to raise the employees’ income.
CNUS general secretary Rafael Abreu, who spoke after Copardom convened to meet Wednesday morning, a to analyze the unions’ demand for a wage increase this year.
Abreu, who said the business leaders will meet with the unionists Thursday afternoon, discarded leaving the topic of a wage increase for April, 2009, as the labor law establishes, because the jump in the prices of products and services forces a wage increase for workers. "It‘s society that now demands that income."
He discarded that a wage increase generates inflation, increase in costs and the closing of companies and suggested that businesses seek an economic a social pact, with a Government commitment to freeze the prices of about 100 food staples.
The goal, he said, is to prevent the workers’ wage increase from being absorbed by possible price jumps.
From: United States, Houston
"The goal, he said, is to prevent the workers’ wage increase from being absorbed by possible price jumps."
Moron, get the increase and watch the price of platinos double
From: Spain, Sanlucar de Barrameda..Coto Doñana
Nice photo
Written by: juanb, 30 Jul 2008 11:42 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I would love to know how much the union officials make.
Written by: anthonyC, 30 Jul 2008 11:46 AM
From: United States
50% Increase?
I know of 2 people with businesses in the DR who will bail if that happens
From: United States, Houston
TonyC, I too know a business owner, he's Dominican btw, who will also have a tough time with this. The other part that is scary and that I have first hand knowledge of it the Pueblo Viejo mine. Barrick Gold, Canadian company, and the main contractor, Fluor Corp, USA, are planning the reactivation by using thier Mexican Subsiderary, ICA Fluor. They and the other companies bidding to work on this project bid their work using the prevailing wage at the time. To have a 50% increase in labor costs not only at the site but also from their suppliers resulting in a dramatic increase in both labor costs as well as material will push the mines start date back months while all of the companies redo their budgets and see if the end client can afford the new price, the resultant lack of new jobs both temporary and permanant due to a bonehead union request will surely negativly impact the economy.
Written by: anthonyC, 30 Jul 2008 12:04 PM
From: United States
Tex,
With the anticipated drop in the commodities market looks like more people in the DR are out of Jobs.
Can't afford to buy food? Thank a Union!
From: United States
Whats wrong with being optimistic? I support the 50% pay raise to employees’ income!
The employer community is always getting over, due to the fact that most of them are extremely money hungry and as soon as there is a pay raise there is a reaction of general prices increases thus neutralizing the salary increase. Involving the government to commit to freezing the prices of the national basics foods of daily consumption is vital for our national social, economic and political stability.
Written by: anthonyC, 30 Jul 2008 12:18 PM
From: United States
Written by: elnationalist, 30 Jul 2008 12:12 PM
From: United States
Whats wrong with being optimistic? I support the 50% pay raise to employees’ income!
You are obviously not a business owner.
Imagine if you had a jump of 50% on a major weekly expenditure. Let say your Rent went up 50% What would you do?
People forget that Business exist for one thing and one thing only:
Not to Provide Jobs.
Not to provide Healthcare.
Not to provide Services.
Not to provide Products.
Businesses exist to make money. By Making money they provide Jobs, Healthcare, Services, products and all of the other stuff that makes life liveable
From: United States, Houston
It not about the employers getting over on anyone. The impact of an increase of this magnatude stretches further than you think the impact will be felt far and wide in all sectors in both suppliers and wholesalers. If the unions covers customs employees and immigration employees you can probably expect to see a slight increase in duties to cover the added expense=higher prices for all goods imported. Its a much bigger issue than what is presented at face value.
Written by: anthonyC, 30 Jul 2008 2:06 PM
From: United States
That is the problem. Some people just don't get it.
Sure raise salaries 50%! Do you think the employer is just going to eat the incresed expenditure?
From: Dominican Republic
If this did happen...not likely to....what about the poor soul making 35,000 pesos.....he now makes less in a managerial position that the person making 20,000 in a subordinate position....Dominincan logic....less education rewards you with more pay than the person guiding you and training you. It is indeed a country of intrigue and comedic policy.
From: Spain, Sanlucar de Barrameda..Coto Doñana
El pais de maravillas
From: United States, Houston
I like Texas Bill am married to a latin woman(Venezuelan) and I still am amazed by some of the thinking especially the benefits structure in Venezuela, Peru Colombia and yes the DR. Basically once you hire somebody and they work for you more than six months as the employer you become indebted to the employee. That not witstanding in Venezuela I had a whole range of employees working for me and the difference in pay for a master electrician vs. a entry level was only about $2.00 per day here in the US and other countries in Eurpoe it could be as much as $10.00 or more per hour difference. You can not (you could but choose not to) fire someone because you have to pay double the social benefits you now owe them, they wont leave because they only get 50% so what you have is a standoff where the employee becomes lazy and the employer can do nothing about, service suffers, revenues from the business suffer etc..... Asi es la vida.
From: United States, Houston
And another thing while on the subject of attitude. When latins protest, say they have a problem with a decision that came from the ministry of funny walks, instead of protesting in front of the ministry they burn tires and close the main highway 30 miles from the ministry!!!!!!!! Making everyone else who has nothing to do with thier problem suffer as well.
From: Dominican Republic, La Union
I can almost foresee if the 50% wage hike actually to take place, it will require a certain norms and demand for the Cheap Labor pay to go high as well which in all senses cheap labor will always be what it is called "C H E A P L A B O R" and the demand for it will only go up because many employers will not bare and stand for it having to pay that much money when it can be done for a cheaper price and more efficiently, quicker and better by Cheap Laborers who are in real dire need of cash and will be almost satisfied with any kind of pay they can get.
From: Spain, Sanlucar de Barrameda..Coto Doñana
Wow Tex I married a Colombian .....we all need our heads examined...just kidding
From: Dominican Republic, La Union
As a Dominican-Haitian myself, I would love to see Haitians stop migrating into DR too, and that Haiti gains some kind of economic integrity and leverage and prosperity, but if most Dominicans think that is what will drive Haitian migration away from DR, they are sadly mistaken and I do not mean that in any arrogant way for neither sides. I mean, the best way and course of action DR could take to make a dent in illegal migration situation in DR is to work in conjunction with the Haitian Government in helping Haiti gain some kind of economical and job structure level and development; but then again most Dominican people have made it clear that an amicable relation with Haiti is not part of their policies and agendas.
From: Dominican Republic, La Union
Suffice enough to say, no matter what your views may be as a Haitian or Dominican on the matters of Hispaniola Affairs, the solution to the problem for the whole Island of Hispaniola does not lie in one each side alone or in particular, it relies on the effort of both sides DR and HAITI working as one toward certain goals through better amicable civil and humane relations once they both get a better sense of the importance of their co-existence on the Island and how crucially it is needed. Constant back and forth lashing, blaming and bashing is not going to solve the problems of neither sides and are much of wasted energies on standing points that are irrelevant to the actual issues of the Island period.
Written by: anthonyC, 1 Aug 2008 2:37 PM
From: United States
Afro,
When you are done with your mental group hug let me know when you come back to reality.
Haiti has been, is now and will be for the foreseeable future a drain on the D.R..
From: United States, Houston
GC,
A Colombiana, almost makes us brothers-in-law.
From: Spain, Sanlucar de Barrameda..Coto Doñana
Cunado and we were both drinking buddies of Buster......Did you know Billy MCkay the one eyed pig roaster ?
From: United States, Houston
I might have
From: United States, Houston
you know what they say, bebes con cochinos, luego escribe es un periodico Dominicana
From: United States, Houston
I also had a lot of buddies that worked at the undersea lab in salt river
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Moron, get the increase and watch the price of platinos double
I know of 2 people with businesses in the DR who will bail if that happens
With the anticipated drop in the commodities market looks like more people in the DR are out of Jobs.
Can't afford to buy food? Thank a Union!
The employer community is always getting over, due to the fact that most of them are extremely money hungry and as soon as there is a pay raise there is a reaction of general prices increases thus neutralizing the salary increase. Involving the government to commit to freezing the prices of the national basics foods of daily consumption is vital for our national social, economic and political stability.
From: United States
Whats wrong with being optimistic? I support the 50% pay raise to employees’ income!
You are obviously not a business owner.
Imagine if you had a jump of 50% on a major weekly expenditure. Let say your Rent went up 50% What would you do?
People forget that Business exist for one thing and one thing only:
Not to Provide Jobs.
Not to provide Healthcare.
Not to provide Services.
Not to provide Products.
Businesses exist to make money. By Making money they provide Jobs, Healthcare, Services, products and all of the other stuff that makes life liveable
Sure raise salaries 50%! Do you think the employer is just going to eat the incresed expenditure?
I can almost foresee if the 50% wage hike actually to take place, it will require a certain norms and demand for the Cheap Labor pay to go high as well which in all senses cheap labor will always be what it is called "C H E A P L A B O R" and the demand for it will only go up because many employers will not bare and stand for it having to pay that much money when it can be done for a cheaper price and more efficiently, quicker and better by Cheap Laborers who are in real dire need of cash and will be almost satisfied with any kind of pay they can get.
As a Dominican-Haitian myself, I would love to see Haitians stop migrating into DR too, and that Haiti gains some kind of economic integrity and leverage and prosperity, but if most Dominicans think that is what will drive Haitian migration away from DR, they are sadly mistaken and I do not mean that in any arrogant way for neither sides. I mean, the best way and course of action DR could take to make a dent in illegal migration situation in DR is to work in conjunction with the Haitian Government in helping Haiti gain some kind of economical and job structure level and development; but then again most Dominican people have made it clear that an amicable relation with Haiti is not part of their policies and agendas.
Suffice enough to say, no matter what your views may be as a Haitian or Dominican on the matters of Hispaniola Affairs, the solution to the problem for the whole Island of Hispaniola does not lie in one each side alone or in particular, it relies on the effort of both sides DR and HAITI working as one toward certain goals through better amicable civil and humane relations once they both get a better sense of the importance of their co-existence on the Island and how crucially it is needed. Constant back and forth lashing, blaming and bashing is not going to solve the problems of neither sides and are much of wasted energies on standing points that are irrelevant to the actual issues of the Island period.
When you are done with your mental group hug let me know when you come back to reality.
Haiti has been, is now and will be for the foreseeable future a drain on the D.R..
A Colombiana, almost makes us brothers-in-law.