Ministry of Labor increases 21% to the salary of free zone workers.

On December 7, through the National Wage Committee (CNS), the Ministry of Labor ordered an increase of 21% on the national minimum wage for workers of the export processing zones sector, effective as of January 1, 2022.

Under the powers conferred by Articles Nos. 452 to 464 of the Labor Code and its Internal Regulation No. 512 dated December 10, 1997, the CNS ordered to fix the mentioned salary at RD$13,915.00 (approximately US$245.00).

For workers rendering part-time services in industrial, commercial, or service companies, the hours rates shall be calculated dividing the monthly salary by 23.83 and dividing this operation by eight. Part-time work is understood as rendering services for a time not exceeding twenty-nine (29) hours per week, without in any case working over this limit or rendering services in extra working hours.

Likewise, employers shall pay the minimum wage of the apprentice following the provisions of the Labor Code. Still, it shall be calculated based on the hours of practical training carried out in the company where the employee renders its services.

Workers who now enjoy a salary higher than the one fixed by this Resolution shall continue to receive the same wage, following the provisions of article 217 of the Labor Code. But the parties can agree to an improvement of such salary.

The new Resolution modifies Resolution No. 36/2019, dated December 2, 2019, issued by the National Wage Committee, which fixes the minimum wage in favor of workers rendering services in export processing zone companies.