Trade unions commit to submitting SER nominations within two weeks

GREAT BAY--Trade unions in St. Maarten have committed to submitting the information and nominations required to advance appointments to the Social Economic Council (SER) within two weeks, following discussions with government aimed at resolving the prolonged delays surrounding representation on the Council.

In a response to questions from The People's Tribune, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina confirmed that government met with representatives of several employee organizations last week to clarify the procedures and legal requirements governing nominations and appointments to the SER. During those discussions, the organizations agreed to provide the necessary documentation establishing their representativity, along with nominations of candidates who meet the legal requirements for appointment.

The government's response follows questions raised regarding the continued disagreement among trade unions over the allocation of the three employee representative seats and whether government intends to intervene if the matter remains unresolved.

According to the Prime Minister's Cabinet, responsibility for determining the allocation of the employee seats rests with the unions themselves, rather than government.

"With respect to the allocation of the employee representative seats, this is a matter that must be resolved by the employee organizations themselves in accordance with the applicable legal framework and representativity requirements," the Cabinet stated.

It explained that government's responsibility is to assess the information submitted by the organizations and proceed with appointments in accordance with the law. Government has nevertheless sought to facilitate progress by meeting directly with the organizations, explaining the applicable procedures and requesting the documentation necessary to complete the process.

The Cabinet also confirmed that additional information and nominations have been requested from employer organizations seeking representation on the SER, indicating that outstanding requirements are not limited to the employee representatives.

The government's immediate focus is now on receiving the submissions promised during last week's discussions.

"The Government expects the requested information and nominations to be submitted within the next two weeks, consistent with the commitments made during the recent discussions," the Cabinet stated.

Upon receiving the information, government intends to review the submissions as a priority to allow the appointment process to advance without further unnecessary delays.

However, the Cabinet made clear that appointments cannot proceed unless the required documentation and legally compliant nominations have been received. The response did not identify a deadline beyond the unions' two-week commitment or specify what legal options government could pursue should the organizations fail to reach an agreement.

The latest development comes as the SER continues to face outstanding requests for advice on matters affecting workers, businesses and residents.

As previously reported by The People's Tribune, three requests submitted in 2026 remain pending. These include a February 6 request from Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg concerning a draft initiative National Ordinance addressing the rent market value threshold, a February 9 request from former Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug concerning a supplementary pension system, and an April 21 request from Brug seeking advice on amendments to Articles 7a and 8 of the National Ordinance on General Old Age Insurance (AOV).

The matters concern housing affordability, retirement security and the country's pension framework, making the continued delays in finalizing the Council's representation particularly relevant to ongoing policy discussions.

The SER's 2025 Annual Report also identified six outstanding advisory requests at the end of that year, including proposals concerning the poverty line, financial assistance, immigration legislation, corporate income tax, foreign workers and civil procedure.

Although the Council completed 10 advisory reports in 2025, it also reported administrative delays involving the formal appointment of its chairman and an employee representative, which contributed to approximately three additional months of delay in completing certain advisory procedures.

The SER consists of nine members, comprising three employer representatives, three employee representatives and three independent experts. Its role is to provide government and Parliament with advice on important social and economic matters.

While the unions' commitment offers a possible path toward completing the appointments, the process remains dependent on the organizations submitting the required information and eligible candidates.

For now, the two-week commitment represents a potential step toward resolving the longstanding nomination issue, although government has not indicated when the appointments themselves will be finalized.

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