Olivares Ortega highlighted the importance of construction to the national economy, due to its contribution to job creation, investment, infrastructure development, and housing construction
Santo Domingo– Labor Minister Eddy Olivares Ortega announced Tuesday that the National Wage Committee (CNS) approved a 20% increase to the minimum wage for construction workers and related trades, a measure aimed at strengthening the purchasing power of this sector and improving the economic conditions of its workers and their families.
The provision, established by Resolution No. CNS-04-2026, establishes new national salary rates for the different categories of workers in that sector, through a phased application.
With the increase, the unskilled worker will go from RD$980.59 to RD$1,176.70, while the skilled worker will see their minimum wage increase from RD$1,072.85 to RD$1,287.42.
Meanwhile, the minimum wage for construction helpers will increase from RD$1,260.34 to RD$1,512.40, and that of third-category operators will increase from RD$1,636.80 to RD$1,964.16.
For workers in higher categories, the new minimum wage will be RD$2,240.93 for second-category operators, RD$2,801.60 for first-category operators , and RD$3,530.13 for master craftsmen in the various areas of construction. These last three amounts will take effect on June 1, 2027.
Olivares Ortega emphasized that the measure responds to the Government's policy of moving towards fairer minimum wages and strengthening the income of Dominican workers.
The official also highlighted the importance of construction to the national economy, due to its contribution to job creation, investment, infrastructure development, and housing construction.
The increase was agreed through tripartite dialogue between workers, employers and the Government, following the sessions of the National Wage Committee held on May 12, 19 and 26 and June 2, 2026.
The Ministry of Labor indicated that the measure aims to ensure that economic growth, productivity, and job creation are accompanied by better wages and decent working conditions for workers in the sector.
Other increases
In May 2024, the Government announced, also with retroactive effect to the 1st of that month, a 20% salary increase for construction sector workers, contemplated in seven resolutions approved by the National Wage Committee (CNS).
According to a press release published by that organization, the increases would take effect retroactively from May 1st with 12%, and the remaining 8% on January 1st, 2025, effective as soon as the provisions were published.
Prior to this salary increase, the Government had implemented a 24% increase for workers in this segment of the economy, applied in two installments: 21% on May 1, 2022, and an additional 3% in October of the same year.
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