Give talks a chance
The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) believes Commissioner of Labour Louie Laveist’s statements on increasing the work permit processing fee could undermine the tripartite talks on the employment permit policy between government and the representatives of employers and workers. SHTA is of the opinion that the proper documentation of foreign labour should be made easier, not more difficult.
This consideration, rather than a possible loss of income, should be the guideline when switching to a system of two- rather than one-year permits. The entire idea behind the permit system, after all, is to regulate and protect the local labour market, not for government to make money.
Also unfortunate was the commissioner’s statement that employers are obligated to pay the work permit fee and should be prosecuted if they are making workers do so. It turns out there is no such requirement in the law, although morally it would seem the right thing to do, especially since employment permits are now issued for a certain job with a specific employer and cannot be used for another job just like that.
The point is that the entire immigration and foreign labour issue has become a delicate one, with employers in need of workers pressing for more flexibility while workers’ organisations want to protect the local labour market. If those parties and government are involved in serious discussions to come to a realistic and practical system, instead of the often emotional public debate, they should indeed be given the chance to do so.
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