SANTO DOMINGO- The mass deportation program being carried out by the Dominican government against Haitians residing illegally in Dominican territory continues to generate concern among Dominican business leaders, who in recent days have warned about the consequences the measure is causing.
From the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep), the Association of Housing Builders and Promoters (Acoprovi), the Dominican Association of Landowners and Farmers (ADHA), among others, have raised their voices to advocate for the regularization of the workforce that provides its labor in trades where Dominicans generally do not work.
Although President Luis Abinader maintains that progress has been made in the mechanization of the workforce, key sectors of the Dominican economy face difficulties due to the shortage of Haitian labor that has supplied these needs for many years.
Last Monday, the president left open the possibility that the regularization of Haitian labor could be carried out by the Economic and Social Council (CES), when asked in La Semanal con la Prensa, about the concern expressed by the AIRD, about the need to establish policies for regularization.
“In the Economic and Social Council, we will convene all sectors so that there, together with other sectors that have been working with us, they can discuss the issues according to the benefit and the best actions for our country; therefore, I will leave that discussion to the CES,” he declared.
Construction sector hit hard
The Dominican Association of Housing Builders and Developers (Acoprovi) has maintained constant monitoring of the impact of the recent migration measures implemented by the government, especially regarding the availability of labor in the construction sector.
“Since its implementation, we have observed a notable decrease in the presence of Haitian workers, particularly in initial and gray construction work, areas in which they have historically had a significant participation due to the scarce availability of Dominican labor interested in this type of work,” said Annerys Meléndez, president of the union.
He stated that the situation has generated concerns among the associates regarding operational continuity and the deadlines for the execution of ongoing projects.
“While we understand and respect the State’s right to regulate national immigration policy, we believe that some operations have been carried out without adequate time to allow for the registration and work visa of foreigners who could meet the legal requirements,” he stated.
The business leader argued that the situation makes it difficult to immediately replace workers in key roles, which has begun to cause delays in the delivery of works, partial or total paralysis of projects and various logistical challenges.
“Consequently, this situation is generating an increase in construction costs, which could translate into an increase in the final price of homes, negatively impacting the Dominican population.”.
Meléndez reiterated the willingness of the organization he represents to collaborate with the authorities in implementing solutions that allow for the orderly and efficient management of foreign labor in the sector. “In that regard, we strongly support the issuance of the 87,000work visas contemplated within the current legal framework, which would allow us to meet the authorized quota of foreign workers.”
Acoprovi reaffirmed its commitment to the Dominicanization and formalization of employment in construction, promoting initiatives such as Construyendo RD, which seek to strengthen the training, integration and employment of Dominican workers in the sector.
“At Acoprovi, we remain committed to the stability of the construction sector, strengthening the investment climate, and above all, guaranteeing access to decent housing for all Dominicans,” Meléndez stated.
Conep
The executive vice president of the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep), César Dargam, reported that several business associations are aligning their positions to deliver a joint proposal to the competent bodies on the effects of the mass deportation of Haitians who are part of the workforce in various productive sectors.
Participating entities include the Association of Landowners, the Association of Housing Builders and Promoters (Acoprovi), and the Chamber of Construction, among others.
"We are listening to all affected sectors to bring their concerns to the appropriate forums," Diario Libre reported on Wednesday
He explained that they are finalizing the proposals that will be presented to the immigration and economic authorities.
Cover photo: Justo Feliz/El Inmobiliario.
