PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Emil Lee kept to his word and started intensified inspections at several businesses on Friday with a team from the VSA Inspectorate.
The team closed three makeup stores on Friday for being in violation of several labour laws. Inspectors requested to speak to management at the stores and requested a number of documents which should have been on hand. Management could not produce these and the stores were ordered to close immediately.
As the inspections continue from a labour and health perspective, inspectors will be looking for a copy of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) registration for relevant year; copy of Business Licence; copy of Director’s Licence; copy of Labour Registration; copies of the employees’ employment and residence permits; copies of employees’ SZV cards/SZV registration or private insurance registration; copy of the personnel list; and employees’ work schedules and overtime register.
Occupational Health and Safety Standards compliance will be checked. Sufficient lighting, a clean environment, sufficient toilets and urinals, prevention measures for creation or distribution and removal of harmful or irritating vapours or gases or dust are also things to which Inspectors will be paying attention.
Minister Lee was present during the inspections and observed how the team approached the businesses on Friday. Lee had said on Wednesday that recognising that improving compliance also included making sure that Government is clear about the information and regulations to which it expects compliance. Much of the information is readily available on
www.ministryvsa.sx .
“Improving compliance is critical for the community for a number of reasons, including loss of revenue for Government, exposure to Government for expenses such as medical evacuations for undocumented workers, unsafe and/or unfair working conditions, unfair business competition and, most importantly, missed opportunities for our citizens for employment,” said Lee.
As a reminder to the community, unless you are a permanent resident, married to a Dutch national, or hold a Dutch passport you are obligated to obtain an employment permit to work.
