Employer Council St Maarten formed
On Friday July 10th, 2020, the first board meeting of the Employer Council St Maarten took place. The Sint Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA), the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) and the Sint Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA), as the recognized employer representative associations have founded a legally registered employer council umbrella organization.
The four associations recognized by St Maarten and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have cooperated for over a decade in representing employer interests. A formal step was taken to unite the four associations under one umbrella organization. By way of this umbrella organization, the associations want to ensure a collective focal point for employer representation on all tripartite matters through representation of the private sector in advisory bodies.
The Employer Council is an inclusive council of autonomous associations and is open to professional business associations so long as they meet the ILO requirements and adhere to principles.
The objective of the employer’s council is to provide sound, holistic advice on issues pertaining to the employment and the labor market as well as matters of socio-economic importance in general.
Structural tripartite dialogue is critical if our country is to grow its way out of the current economic crisis. The Employer Council St Maarten strengthens the voice of the private sector employers through unification in this umbrella organization, consistent with the need recently identified by the Prime Minister.
