Philipsburg: --- Commissioner of Labor Sarah Wescot Williams at the weekly press briefing gave out the statistics on the newly implemented revised labor policy. She said after one full month after the implementation of the policy there were 100 new requests for labor permits. Some 92 of those requests are from exotic dancers and the other eight are for other professions.
The labor department received 39 applications for extensions. Eleven of those she said are for the management who has to pay the fee of Naf. 1,500 position and the 28 are for other professions which falls in the Naf. 800 bracket.
Wescot Williams further explained that some 56 persons registered at the labor department in search of jobs. 56 of those applicants are between the ages of 16- 24 while the other 32 are over 25 years of age. The labor department also dealt with 70 applications for advertisement.
The commissioner said some amendments in the new policy was suggested by the tripartite committee but those changes still has to go before the central committee. These changes she said is in the draft MOU which will be on the floor of the executive council. The labor commissioner said that when this MOU is completed then there would be some changes in the revised policy.
Clarity on Immigration Policy.
Asked if she is still believes that persons who are gainfully employed be registered. The commissioner said while she still believes that something in the Minister's Immigration policy is necessary on St. Maarten. She said when Justice Minister David Dick made his announcement in 2006 they had indicated to the minister that they were in agreement with the policy. Thus it is of uttermost importance that the executive council be given clarity on the matter. The labor commissioner said the policy is not fully implemented and as such they would be seeking that clarity.
She said they have already concluded that there are persons in the labor force that for some reason are not registered even though these people are considered to be part of the local labor force despite the emphasis is for locals to be hired.
The commissioner also appealed to the locals to not continue with the myth that St. Maartner's don't want to work or in certain areas. She said this was a complaint often heard of by the employers but that myth must be dismissed and the locals should go out and seek the jobs that are being advertised. She said what must be understood is that employers are looking for workers who are willing to give a fair days work for a fair days pay.
She said with the regards of the synchronization on the labor policies. Wescot-Williams said she still wants to know how these policies are going to be implemented since she understands that this policy is only partially being implemented. She said the people of St. Maarten needs clarity on this matter while there is need for the synchronization on the policy education, immigration and labor. She said in the first meetings they began looking at these issues especially the policies of the Lt. Governor with regards to registration and immigration. She said before a final conclusion on these matters are made they would have to make sure all parties understand the complications in the other areas.
Wescot Williams said they have requested meeting with the minister of justice to discuss these issues but this has not yet materialized however this would be one of the agenda points in the meetings with the Prime Minister and Governor General while on St. Maarten today.
Also to be discussed is the MOU which was drafted that has to go before the central committee. These matters she said will be tabled in the executive council sometime next week including the formalization of the tripartite committee.
The commissioner is calling on all businesses to deal with the tripartite committee so that there concerns can be addressed.
Also the to debated is the matter concerning students who completed the school system. She said there is an article that deals with this problem. She said this article states that if a student was registered for five consecutive years then they would be integrated. She said she personally asked questions concerning the students who were not registered. Wescot Williams said she is sure that this article in particular would be debated.
Questioned on the amount of backlog in labor permits the commissioner said there was indeed some pending but she could not give a figure on the exact amount that is pending. Asked if she believed if that amount is in the close proximity of 1900 the commissioner said she would be surprised to hear that since she estimated that it was close to 30 or so.