Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants) Convention, 1991 (No. 172) - Dominican Republic (Ratification: 1998)

The Committee notes the Government’s two reports and the attached documentation.

Article 1, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes Regulation No. 2115 of 13 July 1984, classifying and issuing standards for hotel establishments, section 1 of which defines hotel enterprises as those dedicated professionally to the provision of accommodation to individuals, with or without other supplementary services, for a specified price. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether there is any provision in laws or regulations defining the terms "restaurants and similar establishments" and to provide any other information on the establishments to which the present Convention applies.

Article 3, paragraphs 1 and 2. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that, with a view to improving working conditions in hotels and restaurants, new regional labour offices are being established, through the Secretariat of State for Labour, in zones where there are tourist resorts. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the preparation and adoption, in consultation with the social partners, of a policy to improve working conditions in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on national training programmes for workers in hotels and restaurants, as well as official studies on working conditions in the tourism industry in general, and in hotels and restaurants in particular, taking into account the current crisis in the sector and its impact on employment.

Article 5, paragraph 3. The Committee notes that the Government intended to convene the Labour Advisory Council to hear the opinions of the social partners for the purpose of adopting the necessary measures to guarantee that workers in hotels and restaurants, working under contracts for fixed periods or temporary contracts, are granted paid leave proportionate to their length of service, or the payment of wages in lieu. The Committee, noting that the collective agreements provided by the Government do not contain any provision on this point, requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged to give effect to this provision of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the enterprise collective agreements provided by the Government concerning the working conditions in certain hotels. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government, around 45,000 people work in the sector of hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing general information on the application of the Convention in practice, including: the number of establishments and workers covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention; the number covered by collective agreements; the evolution of the average wage of workers in the sector as compared to the evolution of the average wage at the national level; reports of the inspection services indicating any difficulties encountered in the sectors to which the Convention applies, etc.