Labor reports Dominican sugar labor problems, announces $10 million Dominican labor project
September 27, 2013 | 11:50 AM
Labor Secretary Thomas Perez today issued a report finding violations of labor law in the Dominican sugar sector in response to a public submission filed under the Labor Chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
The department also announced a $10 million four-year project to reduce child labor and to improve labor rights and working conditions in Dominican agriculture.
The report is a response to a submission by the Rev. Christopher Hartley which alleged that the Dominican Republic government failed “to enforce labor laws, as required under Chapter 16 of the CAFTA-DR, as these relate to the Dominican sugar industry," Perez noted.
Labor’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs “found evidence of apparent and potential violations of labor law” with respect to the following:
OTLA also noted “concerns in the sugar sector with respect to Dominican labor law on freedom of association, the right to organize, and collective bargaining,” and found that the Dominican government’s labor inspection process had significant shortcomings.
The report recommends that OTLA help the Dominican government improve labor conditions and its investigative procedures.
The project follows years of technical assistance to the Dominican Republic, including $16 million in funding since 1998 to eliminate child labor, the department noted in a news release.
The department also announced a $10 million four-year project to reduce child labor and to improve labor rights and working conditions in Dominican agriculture.
The report is a response to a submission by the Rev. Christopher Hartley which alleged that the Dominican Republic government failed “to enforce labor laws, as required under Chapter 16 of the CAFTA-DR, as these relate to the Dominican sugar industry," Perez noted.
Labor’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs “found evidence of apparent and potential violations of labor law” with respect to the following:
- Acceptable work conditions with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health;
- A minimum age for the employment of children and the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor;
- A prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor.
OTLA also noted “concerns in the sugar sector with respect to Dominican labor law on freedom of association, the right to organize, and collective bargaining,” and found that the Dominican government’s labor inspection process had significant shortcomings.
The report recommends that OTLA help the Dominican government improve labor conditions and its investigative procedures.
The project follows years of technical assistance to the Dominican Republic, including $16 million in funding since 1998 to eliminate child labor, the department noted in a news release.
