The Dominican Republic is the most-visited island country in the Caribbean Sea. It occupies about 5/8 of the island of Hispaniola which it shares with Haiti. It has the largest economy in the Caribbean, and the fastest-growing economy in the Western Hemisphere in the last 25 years.

Palm tree-studded beaches, rainforests, Spanish architecture, and more make the Dominican Republic a wonderful location for remote workers.

Minimum wage varies based on the size of the company and ranges from DOP 11,900 to DOP 21,000. A workweek lasts 44 hours per week at 8 hours per day. Work done past this time is considered overtime and is paid at 135% up to 68 hours, 170% for 68+ hours, and 200% for holidays.

Parental Leave

Pregnant employees in the Dominican Republic are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, starting at least 7 weeks before the due date. Fathers are entitled to 2 days of paid paternity leave.

Sick Leave

After 4 days of sick leave, social security will start to pay a percentage of the employees’ wages during the leave.

Paid Leave

There are 12 public holidays in the Dominican Republic, and employees who have worked at their companies for 1 year are entitled to 14 days of paid time off each year (with an additional 4 days granted after 5 years at the company). Employees can also receive leave for marriage or bereavement.

Process

Employee contracts in the Dominican Republic can be terminated for just cause or simply at the employer’s discretion.

Notice Period

The notice period for employees terminated at the employer’s discretion is between 7-28 days.

Severance Pay

Employees dismissed at the employer’s discretion are entitled to severance pay that is calculated based on the length of employment at the company. If the termination is for just cause an employee isn’t owed compensation.

While there is no legal requirement for a 13th month salary, most employers will offer a Christmas bonus equal to one month’s salary paid around December 20th each year.