Dominican Republic Seeks Solutions for Construction Labor Shortage

The Dominican Republic's construction sector is grappling with a critical labor shortage, as the reliance on Haitian workers faces increasing challenges. This situation has prompted a call for a comprehensive plan to integrate Dominican workers into the industry. Agnerys Meléndez, president of the Dominican Association of Builders and Housing Developers, emphasizes the need for modernization. "By changing methods to be less rudimentary, we can ensure that Dominicans have more interest," she says. Eliseo Cristopher, president of the Dominican Confederation of Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Construction, points to the high level of informality in the sector. "More than 85% of the sector is informal," he states, emphasizing the need for a focused approach to formalization. This initiative requires a collaborative effort between public and private sectors to create a more attractive and sustainable construction industry for Dominican workers.