The Domincan Republic’s Department of Labor along with the Unit against Child Labor (UTI) removed 68 children working at the Rafey dump in Santiago as well as the city market, ‘Hospedaje Yaque.’ 

The coordinator of UTI, Félix Hidalgo, led the inspection and removal of these children in an attempt to reduce child labor in the country.   

Felipe Rosario, the president of the Association of Workers at the Rafey Dump, stated that last year, three minors were killed after being run over by garbage trucks.  He was grateful for the presence of UTI and the Labor department and hopes that future tragedies will now be prevented. 

The Secretary of Labor, Francisco Domínguez Brito, made a plea to all Dominican citizens to avoid putting the children of the country in such horrific situations.  He also stated that they will be pushing to guarantee that children remain in school instead of the workforce, where many of their young lives are in danger.  He continued to express that there needs to be options and social support given to the parents of these children in order to keep them away from dangerous working conditions.