The Dominican Republic has a population of around 11 million,[1] with nearly 82%[2] of inhabitants residing in urban areas. The agricultural sector employs 8%[3] of the working population of the Dominican Republic and is responsible for 6% of the nation’s GDP.[4]
Agriculture is the fourth largest economic sector in the Dominican Republic, however traditional agriculture has been declining for the last four decades, meaning that many rural households have to supplement their income with off-farm work. Conversely, over the last ten years the Dominican Republic has become one of the top exporters for organic and Fairtrade products.[5]
The top produced crops in the Dominican Republic are sugar cane, bananas, papayas, rice and plantains.[6] In terms of export quantity, the top commodities are bananas, raw sugar, molasses, cocoa beans and wheat flour. [7]
- ^ World Bank. (2021). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=DO
- ^ World Bank. (2021). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=DO
- ^ World Bank. (2021). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=DO
- ^ World Bank. (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=DO
- ^ IFAD. (2017). https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/dominican_republic
- ^ FAOSTAT (2019). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT (2019). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in the Dominican Republic ranges between 11,900 (201 EUR) and 21,000 (355 EUR) Dominican pesos per month and varies based on the business market value and the type of labour.[1] By law, a standard workweek is 44 hours, with a maximum of 8 hours per day. As an exception, agricultural workers are allowed 10-hour workdays without additional compensation. It is common practice for many agricultural workers to work overtime in dangerous working conditions and generally receive less than the legally established minimum wage.[2]
Living wage
The Global Living Wage Coalition has developed 2 living wage benchmarks the Dominican Republican, one for rural areas in the Northern region, where banana is grown, and for urban areas around the capital, Santo Domingo.
In rural banana producers areas, the estimated living wage is 27,209 Dominican pesos (460 EUR) per worker per month.[3]Agricultural wages are particularly low in the Dominican Republic compared to other sectors, hence a living wage is crucial for farm workers to afford a decent standard of living. Additionally, further research is needed to estimate the living income that smallholder farmers should receive. Smallholder farmers are considered business owners and receive an income rather than a wage. In the Dominican Republic, there is a large number of smallholders who, it is believed, are not earning enough to support themselves, let alone pay their workers a living wage.[4]
A living wage was also estimated for the capital of the Dominican Republic, more specifically in the urban areas of Bajos de Haina, San Cristobal and San Gregorio de Nigua which are located around Free Trade Zones in Santo Domingo. The esimated value is 36,943 Dominican pesos (626 EUR) per worker per month.
Living income
The Living Wage Benchmarks included a Living Income report, estimating the living income in both regions. For rural areas in the Northern region, a living income was estimated at 43,208 Dominican pesos (731 EUR) per month[5] . For the Santo Domingo region, the value was estimated at 58,877 Dominican pesos (996 EUR) per month[6]. This is the net income a typical family of 4, with 1.67 and 1,71 workers respectively, needs monthly to afford a basic but decent living.
- ^ WageIndicator Foundation. (2023).https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/dominican-republic
- ^ U.S. Department of State. (2019). https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/dominican-republic/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition. (2023) Living Wage Update: August 2021. Dominican Republic, rural areas. https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/rural-dominican-republic/
- ^ Anker R., & Anker, M. (2013). Living Wage for Rural Dominican Republic with Focus on Banana Growing Area of the North.. https://www.globallivingwage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Living_Wage_Report_Dominican_Republic_en.pdf
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