Dominican Republic: CIMTRA calls for implementation of ILO Convention 156

The Inter-Union Committee of Working Women (CIMTRA) has called for the effective implementation of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 156 in the Dominican Republic. The convention, which concerns workers with family responsibilities, officially entered into force on October 3 following the completion of the one-year ratification procedure.

CIMTRA noted that the entry into force is the result of a 15-year struggle. The ratification was signed by the Dominican government through Minister of Labor Eddy Olivares, with tripartite support from the Dominican Employers' Confederation (COPARDOM) and the Union Table during the 20th ILO American Regional Meeting in 2025.

The convention aims to ensure equal opportunity and treatment for men and women with family duties. It promotes labor conditions that allow workers to care for children, aging parents, or persons with disabilities through permits, leaves, and compatible working conditions without professional disadvantage. CIMTRA urged authorities to ensure these provisions are translated into public and private policies to avoid the implementation difficulties previously faced by ILO Convention 189.