Philipsburg:--- The President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labour (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson told reporters on Thursday during the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions' press briefing that he is concerned about the request by the policy advisor of the Island Labour Department Raphael Boasman. Thompson said he was informed that he cannot be part of the committee that will deal with the workings of the employment agencies on St. Maarten because he is a member of the tripartite committee. However, he is of the opinion that the only reason Raphael Boasman does not want him on the committee is because he has too much information on Employment Agencies on St. Maarten whom he said is abusing workers rights.Thompson said he is also of the opinion that he is being blocked from the committee because of his strong views on Employment Agencies that are operating on St. Maarten. He said these agencies are operating in the form of slavery which is contrary to the International Labor Organization. Furthermore, Thompson said the agencies are only supposed to provide companies with workers for a specific period of time. He said companies that are operating permanently on the island are allowed to escape from their obligations to workers through these employment agencies. "When these companies want to pack up and leave or file bankruptcy, they can do so without having any obligations to their workers. Even though many workers worked for those companies for many years via these Employment Agencies they are left aside without anything. This one of the predicaments workers at the Pelican Resort have been facing because that company was allowed to put aside permanent workers and replace them with people from these Employment Agencies."
WIFOL to hold Summer Program.
The President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labour Theophillus Thompsons said that WIFOL will be holding its annual summer program this year. The program is for all students who wish to participate in their IT summer camp. "The idea is to assist working parents who are members of WIFOL with programs for their children during the summer vacation," Thompson said. The WIFOL summer program is open to all students and it is not only for members of the WIFOL. Thompson said that WIFOL has been organizing the IT summer camp for the past six years. The program will begin from July 3rd to August 3rd. Students ages 3 to 19 can participate in the summer camp.