Curbing the abuse of the short term contracts, workers protection, possible laws to protect the working class, and the minimum wage are some of the topics that will be discussed in the second tripartite meeting which is scheduled for January 2012, Elshot said. The WICLU Vice President said the unions already submitted their agenda points to the Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever. One of the concerns of the WICLU members is the new trend by employers who have decided to issue nine months labour contracts to their workers. Elshot said the employers are circumventing the law since much is said about the abuse of the short term contracts.
As for the minimum wage, Elshot said the minimum wage on St. Maarten is much lower than what is paid in other parts of the Kingdom which according to her amounts to inequality among citizens. Unionized workers are somewhat protected because the unions negotiates more when negotiating the Collective Labour Agreements (CLA) but minimum wage workers have to survive on an unlivable salary while prices are skyrocketing.
In the meantime, the unions are hoping to see a proactive government in 2012, said the WICLU members on Thursday. "We are looking forward to a more enhanced and proactive Government in 2012." Theophillus Thompson President of the WICLU said they plan to conduct and evaluation rating early in the New Near. "Our intention is to give credit to employers who have chosen to do the right thing while exposing the ones that are exploiting their workers." The inaction of government this past year has left a lot to be desired, there is room for improvement within the government apparatus.
Thompson described 2011 as challenging for the unions and its workers. Furthermore, this trend is likely to intensify next year and the unions hope to work closer with government to resolve the issues that are plaguing workers. The intention is to conduct evaluations and to put or priorities in prospective next year, the WICLU members said.
