SHTA says:
Laveist’s work permit statements
could undermine tripartite talks
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) says statements by Labour Commissioner Louie Laveist that an increase of the NAf. 800 work permit processing fee is being considered could undermine the tripartite committee’s talks on the employment permit policy.
In a press release on Wednesday, SHTA said it was “surprised” by the Commissioner’s statements.
Laveist made the statements while responding to a question posed by a member of the press during the Executive Council press briefing two weeks ago.
SHTA said the tripartite labour committee consisting of government, private sector and union representatives had been formulating a policy for employment permits over the past months.
“The SHTA finds that the comments of the Commissioner (could) undermine the process of reaching an accord with the social partners,” the association said. It said it was of the opinion that “the barriers to the proper documentation of foreign labour” should not become more cumbersome.
SHTA said it was looking forward to continuing the discussions within the tripartite labour committee, to formulate a sound and comprehensive employment permit policy that would meet the needs of the Island Government, the private sector and the employees.
Laveist had said an adjustment of the fees was being considered, but legal advice was still being sought on the matter. He had assured that the fee would not be doubled. He said the adjustment was necessary, as the Council had recently adopted a new approach, issuing permits for two years instead of one year, for permits that met certain criteria.
