Philipsburg:--- Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that his Ministry is busy reviewing the 2009 labour policy. Minister de Weever called on all employers to respect the laws of St. Maarten while filing requests for labour permits for their foreign workers.The Minister said that the employment permit has been a topic of discussion but one of things government has to ensure is that locals are not left out of the job market. The Minister said when he took office he asked the department to work on a draft amendment which will be discussed with the social partners. Minister De Weever said that the 2009 policy has been creating challenges for some businesses on the island. He said government's aim is to be transparent, fair, and responsible.
The Minister said some of the areas they intend to amend is the moratorium for housemaids and security guards and the age limit which states that persons applying for foreign labour permits have to be 25 years of age and over.
In response to a question posed by SMN News regarding foreign teachers that are now being affected because of their foreign degree in education. The Minister said that one of the things government is looking at is making sure that teachers are qualified for the job they are applying for. He said the matter regarding teachers was discussed with the Minister of Education since they both have to make sure that the labour policy and the laws that govern St. Maarten are respected. The labour Minister also confirmed that some teachers who taught on St. Maarten for years have been affected with the application of the law.
