St. Martin News Network

We have quite a few youngsters that have serious problems to enter the jobmarket. Skills and attitude are not always at a level that opens doors for them. Employers will think twice before hiring a youngster and have to pay the full minimunwage. This will have as result that more of our youngsters will be jobless and are idling around, eventually looking for easy money.

i am wondering how many of them front and back street employer will apply the raise to their employee salary this month end, they will not alot of them.... all of them crying broke but have money to blow... paying their staff lil and nothing..

What's this, modern day slavery? Minimum wage for carrying out a FULL job? Can the person receiving minimum wage give minimum effort in return? Will they get to pay minimum prices in the supermarkets? I bet not! An 18 - 21 year old adult is expected to perform like any other employee, and they have responsibilities just like other people. This is just highway robbery and pure discrimination!

An 18 year old can vote, and they should either not vote in protest or vote certain people out of office until they are treated equally. This is pure bullsh8. Shame on the minister, government, business and the unions. They should be compensated for the value of the job, not based on their age! They should all rise up and protest. Stand up for your rights, youth of St. Maarten.

@William:

You took the words out of my mouth.

ohhh thats why alot of them on the streets not condoning it but for you to work sometimes even harder tha the others because some employee realy takes advantage on the teenagers them and get let alone minumun wage aint no money in sxm ands the teenagers get less? wel what a shame on the people that made this law thaught slavery was bad this is the same slavery but a modern one

This is another slap in the face of the young people. Why wait until Jan 1 2014????? If you can vote at 18 why can't you get the minimum wage???

Connie continues to amaze with with his bend over tactics

I am sure, all businesses will want to pay young people, the full minimum wage, and more, if they are willing to work.

There are some, you can close your eyes and keep, and send them up the ladder, but they have others, that just use and ride the system.

When you are speaking in their interest, also please advise them to be good employees.
Go to work
Be on time
Do your best, and I am sure your boss will appreciate you, and you will become full time.
I am young, and I am on Fls 14.00 an hour, after 1 year
of dedicated, perfect work, and I am no longer on a contract.

So there are businesses that do want to pay you,
if you want to work, and respect your job.

Mister Dewwever, what you need to do is make those Help Desk effect , waste of tax payers money, not serving their intended purpose, the workers in the help desk are very friendly by their hands are tied by a dragon lady called Ida....