Justice Manuel Ramón Herrera Carbuccia, first substitute for president of the Supreme Court of Justice and judge of the Third Chamber participated as a keynote speaker in the IV Seminar on Transparency and Public Management organized by the Dominican Alliance Against Corruption (ADOCCO).
The judge, a specialist in labor law, stated that 90% of construction and agricultural workers are foreigners and most of them are not covered by social security and labor legislation.
He said that labor rights are inherent to the social state and that there is a need for an updating of the norms is needed not only to discuss labor benefits, notice or severance, but also fundamental rights, social equality, women's rights and family reconciliation.
"Moreover, I must remember that, in Social Security matters, non-compliance entails damages," said Judge Carbuccia.
He cited that Article 7 of the Constitution of the Dominican Republic establishes that "the Social State is based on social rights, which are education, property, social security and labor rights".
He considered that the effective construction of a social state requires transparency and efficiency in rights. He also stressed that social rights, especially labor legislation and social security, need reasonable, prudent, non-passionate reforms that include the most vulnerable sectors.
"Any legislative modification must not forget social changes, fundamental rights, guardianship and guarantee," urged the magistrate.
He pointed out that the social state materializes when there is less inequality, since a state without rights is worthless. He also pointed out that this is a society with a great economy, but also with great inequality.
"Transparency is the key to help the State and the population, society, the ordinary citizen, to greater equality, with a higher quality of life and a better country and society," he said.
