SHTA polling members on
quotas for foreign workers
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) is conducting a poll among its members to get feedback on a quota system being proposed for the employment of foreigners in the various sectors of the economy.
The proposed quota system is expected to be incorporated into the Island Government’s new employment permit policy, now one of the subjects of discussion among the members of the tripartite committee comprising business, labour and government.
The discussions are currently taking place at a highly confidential level, but The Daily Herald, by virtue of its membership in the SHTA, received a copy of the association’s request for feedback about the quota system as suggested in Article 9 of the draft employment permit policy.
In its circular to its members the association said the document was still confidential, as it is still in its discussion phase, but it had been granted permission to poll its members on Article 9.
Article 9.1 of the proposed policy recommends that a quota be placed on the maximum number of immigrant workers employers are allowed to have working in their respective sectors. The proposal lists percentages of non-nationals that would be allowed in the various sectors.
The percentages range from a low five per cent for the electricity and gas sector, the banking industry and financial services sector, public administration and defence to a high 60 per cent for those in construction.
The proposal also provides for 10 per cent quotas for transportation, storage and communication, public health and social labour, and other public and social services; 25 per cent for the wholesale and retail trade, and real estate and brokerage; 30 per cent for the education sector; and 40 per cent for the processing industry and the hotel and restaurant industry.
Article 9.2 of the proposed policy states that an employment permit shall be refused if granting the employment permit would lead to the quota for the business sector in question being exceeded.
SHTA said it had been requested to provide feedback on the percentages and the consequences of implementing the quota system, and it was therefore conducting the poll among its members to get their opinions on the matter.
The association also told its members that the SHTA representatives on the tripartite committee were concerned about the implementation of a quota system, especially if the percentages proved to be unrealistic.
