PHILIPSBURG:--- A review of the minimum wage, a cost of living allowance and the situation regarding short-term contracts is very much needed, yet OSPP considers that MP Frans Richardson and N.A. advocating urgent attention to the minimum wage issue at this time smacks of opportunism and perhaps hypocrisy. According to Richardson, "thirteen years have gone by in St. Maarten with no increase in minimum wage despite the cries of the public". It also happens that Richardson has been a politician during the entire period that the current minimum wage has been in force. Richardson and N.A. had also been in government for a portion of that time, and there is no evidence that they even had an opinion on the matter. It is also very ironic that during the preparation for St. Maarten becoming a country, discussions were also taking place regarding salaries. The average minimum wage earner was very enthusiastic, for he believed that the salary changes would have included an increase to his salary also, but not realizing that after the astronomical high salaries for the MP's were finalized, there was no more concerns for the salaries of the small man. Yet, it is not strange that Richardson and N.A. are so suddenly passionate about the minimum wage issue, politicians tend to be fired-up and people-oriented on the eve of elections.
In OSPP's opinion, it is often the case on St. Maarten that employers view and applies the minimum wage as a maximum wage. They make it clear that by law they are not obligated to pay more. This way of thinking has to stop.
OSPP favors an adjustment of the minimum wage among others by differentiating the minimum wage structure for example by different age categories and by professions, which would be overall equally beneficial to the employer and employee.
Employers will also be guaranteed the best business possible business climate, such as more favorable investment incentives, rapid issuing of business licenses, work and resident permits. All structures that impede the conducting of business efficiently on St. Maarten deserve adequate attention.
An adjustment of the minimum wage should not result on the businesses being able to increase their prices otherwise we are back to square one.
OSPP Press Release