Judges in the Dominican Republic have called for a national strike to demand improvements in working conditions and salaries.

A group of Dominican judges, wearing robes, are demonstrating in front of a courthouse, holding signs demanding "Fair salaries now" and declaring "Judges on strike." (Illustrative Image Infobae) The magistrates of the Dominican Republic have announced a national strike for May 21, 2026, to demand better working and salary conditions within the judicial system. According to Listín Diario, the call was spread through social media and urges all judges in the country to suspend their duties that day peacefully. The protest, according to Listín Diario, is motivated by the desire for a "profound transformation" in the working and remuneration conditions of the judiciary. The organizers demand salaries commensurate with the responsibility and workload they face, as well as safe and dignified working environments in all jurisdictions. The document circulating among judges and other legal professionals details six key points that underpin their demands. One of the main demands, according to Panorama, is the need for equality and fairness to move beyond rhetoric and become real practices within the judicial system. The judges reject the current institutional manual, which they consider unfair and in conflict with the principles of fairness. They also request that mobility and advancement within the judicial career be based strictly on merit and transparency. The image shows a judge's gavel, glasses, and documents on the theme of "Judicial Strike" and "The Right to Justice" in an empty courtroom, symbolizing the paralysis of justice due to the strike by Dominican judges. (Illustrative Image Infobae) The movement also highlights the urgent need to incorporate more judges and support staff to reduce the backlog in courts and ensure efficient service to citizens. According to data from Panorama, despite the fact that the budget for the judicial system for 2026 increased the remuneration allocations to exceed 9.6 billion Dominican pesos (approximately more than 163 million US dollars), dissatisfaction persists due to the lack of salary parity with other high-ranking state officials. The judges point out that the compensation manual approved in 2022 has not been effectively implemented. It is reported that there are administrative positions within the judicial system itself whose salaries exceed those of judges who issue rulings. "Without labor justice, there can be no true justice," the message disseminated by the organizers and reported by Panorama states. In the same vein, the statement adds: "Today for us, tomorrow for justice." The announced strike for May 21 is said to be peaceful and aims to highlight the dissatisfaction that the judges are denouncing. The organizers insist that the well-being of those who administer justice is fundamental for the proper functioning of the rule of law in the Dominican Republic. "For a judicial system that values those who support it: today we are fighting for ourselves, but we are doing so with the future of Dominican justice in mind," the statement cited by Listín Diario and Panorama states. According to the media Panorama, the Dominican judicial system approved a budget for 2026 that allocates more than RD$9.6 billion (equivalent to US$161,860,000.00) to payroll (salaries and contributions), emphasizing personnel expenses. However, the judges claim that this has not resolved the need for a real indexation of their salaries. Official photo of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Dominican Republic (Photo courtesy of the Judicial Branch) At the time of writing, the social media accounts of the Judicial Branch had not issued a statement regarding the judges' announcement.