He remains in the country due to a lack of job security and stability.
SANTO DOMINGO - Although Haitian workers share a common desire to secure a more stable and safe future for themselves and their families in the Dominican Republic, most express a desire to return to their country, especially those living in more unstable conditions due to their immigration status and skill level.
This is according to the study "Labor Market and Foreign Labor in the Construction Sector in the Dominican Republic , prepared by the National Institute of Migration of the Dominican Republic (INMRD), which states that although the workers see the situation in Haiti as very uncertain, they hope that it will improve and, in that case, they would return to their country immediately: "You leave the same day. You feel better at home than outside," said one of the interviewees for the study.
A few, however, stated that returning to their country requires security, while others who have been in the country longer and have had their children here said, "You can come and go, because you're used to it here."
The study reveals that most of the workers surveyed stated that they plan to continue working in the construction sector in the Dominican Republic as long as there is work and as long as the security situation in Haiti does not improve.
Another option they mentioned was going to another country (United States or Mexico) and some said they would like to start a business, a small grocery store or regularize their immigration status to achieve a more stable employment situation.
Working conditions
The study indicates that the working conditions of immigrants are related to their immigration status and the work they perform. Workers with legal status sometimes work under contract with the company and receive benefits such as health insurance, vacation time, bonuses, etc. Those without legal status are generally hired by a master or contractor, some verbally and others with a signed agreement. The focus groups identified different working conditions depending on the worker's skill level.
Among the unskilled workers, most are employed as helpers (carrying blocks, cement, and sand, preparing the mix, assisting bricklayers, among other tasks). Those without formal employment contracts work through informal agreements with the foremen; some sign a document, but in most cases, it's a verbal agreement. "There's no fixed contract; we work and get paid when they can," says one of the workers interviewed.
Some workers indicated that they only sign up to receive payment. Many acknowledge that they do not enjoy the benefits of formal employment because they are not permanent employees; "we are itinerant workers." This means they lack health insurance, paid vacations, double pay, etc.
The standard workday is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Monday through Friday, and until noon on Saturdays, although some workers stated that they work the same hours but are not paid overtime . On some construction sites, when the workday extends until 7 p.m., they are paid overtime, but this is not the case on all sites.
The pay workers receive depends on the number of days they work. On average, for unskilled workers, the daily wage can range from RD$ 800 to RD$1,000 for newer workers to RD$2,000 per day for more experienced ones, meaning they can earn up to RD$ 7,000 per week . Some contractors pay weekly, others reported receiving payment every 15 days , while still others received it every 21 days . Some workers, being Haitian, feel their income is unstable, working according to whatever they are paid because they are in need. They also feel they are paid less than other workers: "You know, a Haitian is worthless ," said one foreigner interviewed.
"You can work even if it's just one day a week. You can work two, three days. But if you work the whole week, you earn 12,000 pesos. Okay, and 12,000 pesos until Saturday... but if you work the whole week, sometimes you earn 6,000, 8,000, 7,000, 4,000. Because your earnings depend on the day, for the week," explained an unskilled worker from Santo Domingo.
In the case of more specialized workers, those without regular immigration status are also hired by a contractor, not the company, although they receive a higher wage, which can range from RD$2,000 to RD$3,500 per day. Some months they can earn RD$60,000, other months less, and other months more; it depends on the job and the employer. One worker commented that the minimum wage is "[...] the cheapest is RD$2,500 per day." These workers acknowledge that it depends on the employer, "[...] I get paid RD$2,500 or RD$2,000 per day, it depends on the employer [...]. There are employers who pay up to RD$2,000." Some workers say that they occasionally get a "squandered" job through referrals, hired directly by someone who needs them to do some work. In these cases, they generally earn RD$2,500 per day.
As with the helpers, skilled workers hired through a contractor are considered informal workers, meaning they lack labor rights such as paid vacation or double pay, and have no access to health insurance. This reveals a high degree of vulnerability and lack of protection, especially in the event of a workplace accident. When an accident occurs, the solidarity among Haitian immigrants becomes evident, with the engineer even contributing to cover medical expenses, medicine, and time off work, all paid for by his coworkers. They also demonstrate solidarity when they are arrested and need to raise money for their release or to return to the Dominican Republic after being deported.
However, the study says that in the case of teachers, the hiring system is different. Jobs are done on a contract and on a piece-rate basis, and these teachers, in turn, subcontract a crew of workers to do the work, paying them by the day and earning a percentage of the profit on each job/contract. These subcontracts are done informally, verbally, and the daily rate depends on the type of worker, their skills, and experience. "It depends on the person, it depends on their ability. For example, you might have an assistant worth 1,000 pesos, but if there's another one working, and they're very skilled, you can pay them 1,100 to 1,200 pesos.".
Finally, the report highlights the case of so-called "house workers." These workers are hired directly by the company, receive the corresponding benefits, and earn wages ranging from RD$ 1,200 to RD$1,700 per day.
