Santo Domingo. The Dominican Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Construction Companies (Copymecon) has called for urgent action to address illegal labor in the construction sector. The organization asserts that illegal employment and a high rate of informality are distorting the economy and negatively impacting job stability and professionalization in construction projects.
Eliseo Cristopher, president of Copymecon, emphasized the need for immediate solutions to these pressing issues. He noted that the current repatriation of illegal Haitian workers is hindering the construction industry, as they make up a significant portion of the workforce in the sector. Cristopher stressed a need to attract more national workers, stating that “more than 95% of the Dominican skilled workforce is needed in the construction sector.”
He further insisted on the importance of gradually replacing foreign labor with domestic workers. Minister of Housing and Buildings Jean Luis Rodríguez acknowledged the need to tackle illegal labor, suggesting that a joint solution is necessary to address related discussions on migration and the economy.
Rodríguez also agreed that the construction sector’s high informality rate is problematic. According to Cristopher, over 98% of businesses in this sector are micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) operating without formal recognition. He criticized the lack of government policies to combat informality, asserting, “Nothing is being done to address this problem. We definitely don’t see any Government policy to combat informality in the construction sector.”
The ongoing discussions about these challenges highlight the urgent need for governmental intervention to stabilize and professionalize the construction workforce in the Dominican Republic.
