Economy Issues

 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

December,10^th, 2022

 

Economy Issues

 

By Yenifer A. Gomera 

      Migration is not a recent phenomenon; it has been a part of the human history since its very beginning of time. Migration is defined as a process of moving, either across an international border, or within a country. Undoubtedly, Dominican Republic has been dealing with this situation for many years, specifically with the Haitian migration. According to the Second National Survey (2020), there are about half a million Haitians living in this island. Unquestionably, Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic can provoke serious damages.

    Firstly, Haitians migration to the Dominican Nation increases the informal economy. As there are lot of illegal Haitian in this country, they have to create informal business to survive. However, that is a problem in our economy. For instance, in the avenue La Duarte, we observe lots of informal Haitians sellers. Clearly, these merchants do not contribute to taxes. Due to this, the formal workers are affected because they have to pay high taxes.

  Secondly, Haitians migration to Dominican Republic affects the Dominican worker salary. This situation replaces the Dominican workforce and contribute to increase the level of poverty in this island. According to research by the Ministry of the Economy Haitian migration raises the level of income inequality in the country; that is, it increases the remuneration of capital and skilled labor and reduces the labor income of less skilled workers. That is to say, as Haitians receive a low salary because of their illegal condition, Dominicans will receive the same salary or even they may not have the job. 

     Lastly, the Haitians parturients produce enormous expenses in our country. As mentioned by Doctor Miguel Antonio Ortega, the general director of Presidente Es­trella Ureña hospital, in Santiago, the expenses of such hospital increase to more than RD$8 million every month due to the service offered to Haitians parturients, which causes a deficit of RD$3 million per month. Another thing that acts on in our financial system is the investment in repairing damages caused by these pregnant women to some spaces, such as bathroom, corridor, sinks, and others. Consequently, not only the economy is affected but also Dominicans parturients.

    To sum up, the mass of Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic produces several issues to the country´s economy. It affects the Dominican worker´s salary. Moreover, the government spend huge amounts of money in Haitian parturients which disturb the Dominican financial resources. Clearly, migration is a serious problem, and it should be regulated in order to have a better economy.

Santo Domingo 2022