Philipsburg:--- The Members of Parliament representing the National Alliance and Independent Member of Parliament Frans Richardson told reporters on Monday that the draft amendment to the Civil Code which was sent to the Council of Advice is now ready and it was submitted to the Chairlady of Parliament so that a central committee meeting can be called to discuss the draft amendment to the civil code which would help curb the abuse of the short term labour contracts.Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin said some changes had to be made to the first draft that was submitted to the council of advice and now the final draft amendment to the civil code is ready to be discussed in a central committee meeting before the public debate on the floor of parliament takes place.
Marlin said when the draft amendment is passed into law it will not take effect immediately. He said the Minister of Labour would have to publish a list of jobs that fall under the draft amendment of the civil code and employers would have to get permission to hire people on a short term basis for jobs that are on the list. Marlin said cashiers for casinos, supermarkets and slot attendants are some of the jobs that would be on the list created by the Minister of Labor. He said while these jobs are listed, employers who want to employ someone for a job on that list on a short term basis would have to discuss their reasons with the Minister of Labour before he/she is granted permission. Marlin explained that too many persons living on St. Maarten are being negatively affected by the short term labor contracts. He said workers on these so called short term contracts are not able to secure loans from the bank and they are not able to get a low income house from the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation.