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Amid rising concerns over labor shortages in agriculture and construction, Dominican officials are weighing the possibility of granting temporary work permits to Haitian laborers. Senator Guillermo Lama, a member of the Dominican Senate’s Commission on Border Affairs, highlighted the economic challenges resulting from recent mass deportations of undocumented Haitian workers, which have strained labor supply in key sectors.
Senator Lama pointed to a noticeable slowdown in agricultural production and construction projects, noting that many businesses have relied heavily on Haitian workers. The deportations, led by the Directorate General of Migration (DGM), have underscored a labor gap that Lama believes could be addressed by a structured, temporary work permit system.
The senator, representing Baoruco province near the Haitian border, suggested that a temporary work permit program could provide a legal avenue for Haitian nationals to fulfill short-term labor demands in the Dominican Republic. He envisions a regulated approach whereby Haitian workers would be contracted for specific jobs, with a clear expiration date on their permits requiring them to return to Haiti afterward.
Acknowledging the current reality where many Haitians lack legal documentation, Lama proposed potential amendments to Migration Law 285-04 and its regulatory framework, Decree 613-11. He argued that such changes would not only help fulfill labor needs but would also create a more predictable and lawful structure for the movement of temporary laborers across the border.
“The goal is to establish a mechanism to meet our labor demands in essential economic sectors, even if only for a limited period,” Lama stated.
This proposal comes as Dominican authorities continue to face challenges in managing cross-border labor needs while balancing immigration regulations. Lama believes that a revised migration policy accommodating temporary permits could provide a sustainable solution benefiting both the Dominican economy and Haitian workers.
