💪 Historic! Collective Bargaining Wage Increase for Domestic Workers in Dominican Republic💪

On April 8, 2025, the Dominican Republic marked a milestone in the country’s labor history. For the first time, a 30% wage increase was achieved for the domestic work sector as a result of collective bargaining at the tripartite table of the National Wage Committee. This advance will be effective as of May 1, 2025, and gives continuity to the resolution taken in 2022 that established a minimum rate for this historically excluded sector.

With the increase achieved, the salary of paid domestic workers – HRWs – in the Dominican Republic is 13,000 Dominican pesos (about US$213). This is a step forward in the recognition of their work in the care economy, although much remains to be done. These workers continue to face unequal conditions compared to other sectors, since there is still no clear definition of their working hours in the law. Currently, a proposal to reform the Labor Code is being discussed in the country, with the objective of establishing a limit of 8 hours a day for external workers and 10 hours for those who live at their place of employment. Clearly defining the working day is essential to guarantee better conditions and advance towards true labor equality for this sector.

Photo taken at the Ministry of Labor on April 8, 2025. From left to right: Ruth Díaz, president of FUNAMUTRA; María Cornelia Valdez, general secretary of UNFETRAH-FENAMUTRA; Eddy Olivares, Minister of Labor; Victoria García, president of the Association of Domestic Workers ATH-CNUS; Marubeny Pérez, General Secretary of SINTRADOMES-CASC, and Elena Pérez, General Secretary of the Domestic Workers’ Association.

This achievement is a fundamental step in advancing the rights and strengthening the economic autonomy of women, who represent the vast majority of domestic work in the country and the region. Recognizing their work, regularizing their conditions and guaranteeing a living wage is key to building a more just and equitable society.

We celebrate this achievement! The result of organized struggle and collective commitment to social justice and gender equity.

From CONLACTRAHO and CARE Ecuador, within the framework of the FAME project (Feminism, Action and Mobilization for an Inclusive Economy), financed by the AFD – Agence Française de Développement, and with the support of our allies: CARE France, Geres, Empow’Her, SAWDF and WACSI, we celebrate this important advance.

🎥 Don’t miss this video that summarizes this historic breakthrough and the road traveled to make it possible: https://bit.ly/42AfpfO