SANTO DOMINGO.-With some modifications, the Senate of the Republic approved this Tuesday afternoon the bill that modifies Law 16-92, which approves the Labor Code of the Dominican Republic, a piece that aims to strengthen the conditions among the country's workers.
The initiative seeks to modernize the Labor Code to improve working conditions, guarantee fundamental rights and strengthen aspects such as non-discrimination, conflict resolution and regulations on overtime, suspension of contracts and leaves of absence.
The Senate plenary welcomed the modifications to the labor reform, among which the most notable is article 3 of the labor reform bill, which prohibits all forms of discrimination in the workplace based on sex, gender, age, race, origin, political opinion, union membership, sexual orientation, disability or religious belief, except for the exceptions provided by law for the protection of the worker.
It is also clarified that distinctions based on the qualifications required for a specific position are not considered discriminatory.
Likewise, the plenary approved the elimination of article 83 and welcomed the modification to article 88, which establishes the causes under which an employer can terminate an employment contract through dismissal.
Among the other modifications announced in the labor reform, the change introduced to Article 511, as it seeks to expedite the conciliation process. The proposal establishes specific deadlines for the appointment of the conciliator judge, the notification of the claim, and the summons to the hearing, guaranteeing a minimum of eight clear days between the summons and the hearing itself.
Article 722 of the labor reform bill stipulates that funds collected from fines will be incorporated into the Ministry of Labor's budget. These resources will be used to strengthen the services offered to users.
With these provisions, the Senate of the Republic is advancing in the construction of a more modern, fair and efficient legal labor framework, which strengthens institutional control mechanisms, promotes equity in employment and guarantees greater protection of the rights of workers and employers in the Dominican Republic.
