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Dominican Judicial Branch Approves New Compensation and Benefits Manual
The Dominican Republic's Judicial Council approved an updated Compensation and Benefits Manual that introduces a 30% cumulative salary adjustment, revises pay structures for judicial personnel, and modernizes compensation policies while protecting employees' acquired rights.
The Judicial Council (Consejo del Poder Judicial, CPJ), the administrative and governance body of the Dominican Republic’s Judicial Branch, has approved an updated Compensation and Benefits Manual aimed at modernizing the institution’s salary system and aligning compensation with the evolving responsibilities of judges and court personnel.
The reform updates the salary framework that has been in place since 2022, taking into account increases in the cost of living as well as changes in the duties performed by judges, judicial officers, and administrative staff. The new manual also consolidates salary rules, employment classifications, and employee benefits into a single regulatory document.
30% Salary Adjustment to Be Implemented in Two Phases
The revised compensation system introduces a cumulative 30% salary indexation, which will be implemented in two stages. The first adjustment of 20% will take effect beginning in July 2026, followed by an additional 10% in January 2027. Both increases will be calculated using the same 2026 salary reference.
The CPJ also approved compensation adjustments for court clerks, court secretaries, and assistant attorneys serving in Courts of First Instance and Courts of Appeal. According to the council, the revisions reflect the complexity, specialization, and level of responsibility associated with these positions.
Revised Job Classifications and Administrative Review
Under the updated manual, court clerk positions will be classified according to the judicial level in which they serve. The new framework also formally recognizes the essential role played by court secretaries in organizing judicial offices, managing hearings, and overseeing procedural activities.
In addition, the Judicial Council ordered a 60-day review of the duties performed by assistant attorneys assigned to common secretariats to determine whether certain positions warrant a higher employment classification.
Greater Uniformity in the Salary Structure
The reform simplifies the existing Executive I, Executive II, and Executive III categories by establishing a single salary level for each category based on the updated minimum salary scale. According to the council, the measure is intended to strengthen consistency, transparency, and proportionality throughout the Judicial Branch’s compensation system.
The manual also establishes temporary compensation rules for judges elected to serve as members of the Judicial Council. The council stated that these provisions are designed to maintain salary hierarchy in accordance with Law No. 105-13 on State Salary Regulation while recognizing the additional governance, administrative, and disciplinary responsibilities assumed by council members. The measure applies only during their term as councilors and does not constitute a promotion or alter their judicial career status.
Existing Employee Rights Protected
The Judicial Council emphasized that the update safeguards acquired rights for all judicial personnel. No judge or Judicial Branch employee will experience a salary reduction, be assigned to a lower employment category, or lose existing benefits as a result of the changes.
The council also noted that the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, who also serves as president of the Judicial Council, will not receive the additional compensation approved under the new policy, maintaining his decision to decline the general economic benefits while serving in office.
According to the CPJ, the updated manual is intended to create a clearer, more equitable, and financially sustainable compensation framework that supports institutional strengthening and enhances the administration of justice in the Dominican Republic.
