Santo Domingo. - The president of the unions grouped in the CNUS Tuesday said they’ll not accept the 12% raise for the minimum wage proposed by employers even if it includes those of RD$30,000 monthly, because that percentage doesn’t mean anything for workers who earn the minimum.

Rafael Abreu, speaking in the CNUS offices together with representatives of other unions, said they’ll reduce only the 25% percent increase demanded for workers who earn up to RD$30,000, depending on how much that amount over the minimum said increase reaches.

He said they’ll meet Thursday with the unions to determine the following actions.

Increases

Abreu said that the percentage the employers try to impose doesn’t even reach RD$40 daily, for which he asks them to meet them halfway, to reach an agreement satisfactory for both parts.

According to CNUS’ calculations if workers accept the proposed 12% percentage to the minimum wage, those who earn RD$7,360 will get anRD$883.20 increase (37.06 daily); those who RD$5,060 will get RD$607.20 (25.48 daily); those who make RD$4,485 will get RD$538 (22.58 daily) and night watchmen who make RD$6,210 will get RD$745.20 more, or 31.27 daily.

He stressed that they are willing to talk to reach an agreement, but the employers’ hard stance will force them to intensify their actions.

Wages Committee

The Labor Code renders the government powerless to take part in the wage increase conflict, said Wages Committee director Gloria Henríquez.

She said the Labor Code needs to be modified because there’s a legal vacuum, since it only allows the government to summon the parts to meet, two years after it issues a wage increase resolution.