~ DP President lauds initiative ~
PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance (NA) officially presented its draft amendment to the civil code to stem the abuse of short-term labour contracts to President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell on Monday with the hope that the initiative law will be handled expeditiously in the interest of workers.
Democratic Party (DP) President Michael Ferrier, speaking with radio personality Lloyd Richardson on PJD2 1300 on Monday, lauded the NA initiative, saying it didn't matter from what party such an initiative came; as long as it was in the interest of the people of St. Maarten, it would have his support.
The NA initiative will be the first piece of legislation to be handled by the Parliament of Country St. Maarten.
NA Member of Parliament (MP) Louie Laveist told The Daily Herald last night that even though this would be the first piece of legislation to be handled by the Parliament of Country St. Maarten, which he said was in itself historical, this was not the issue for NA. "The issue for us is the importance of this draft initiative. We expect for the [President of Parliament] not to play politics with it and to react expeditiously, as this is in the best interest of workers on the island."
NA based its proposal on the premise that workers holding jobs of a permanent nature should be given permanent employment and not placed on contracts. The proposal was announced by party leader MP William Marlin at a press conference last week Friday.
A number of procedures have to be followed before the draft proposal can go into effect. It will have to be submitted to the Advisory Council. Once an advice has been rendered, the proposal can be tabled for discussion in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament. It then can be tabled for debate in a public meeting of Parliament. If approved by the majority of MPs, it will become law.
Marlin had told reporters it was impossible for companies to operate seven days a week and have their workers on contracts and on a "starvation line" in terms of job security whereby they were hired for a few months, sent home and rehired on different contracts.
He said businesses had been abusing the provision of short-term labour contracts for years to circumvent regulations put in place to protect workers. He said the abuse of the contracts had worsened to the point where some employers had turned the operations of their businesses into the structural use of short-term labour contracts.
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