Group of illegal Surinam workers left the island without being deported.

1909
Sherman Saratis Union Representative

PHILIPSBURG:— On March 15,2015 the group of illegal workers of Surinam whom was working for Telem left the island without being deported from the island.

In the mean time the SMCU is aware that Telem requested work permits for this group of Surinam workers. SMCU is still of the opinion that this group of Surinam workers infringed with our laws and that they had to be deported with a penalty that they are not allowed to return to the island for a period of one year.

In the mean time SMCU send a mail to the head of the labor affairs department requesting that this office assures that these group of Surinam don’t get working permits for the reason of the infringement of our laws. The names of the groups of illegal workers from Surinam could be collected by the labor inspector department to verified that those are the same names who had work at Telem and that they were stop by the department.

On Monday March 16,2015 management and union had a meeting in connection the Surinam workers. mrs Etnel was surprise that the union went to the media with the matter and didn’t wait to speak to her, but Mrs Etnel forgot that management and union had a meeting on February 27,2015 where management and union agree that management would of opened the bid. So that the local contractor would get the opportunity to take part in the fiber project and three local contractors name was mention. SMCU don’t understand how Mrs Etnel could be surprised with our action since management didn’t lived up to the agreement reached on February 27, 2015.

Now Mrs Etnel is indicating that the fiber project is a pilot project where we from the SMCU are employees of the company and know that pilot project already took place and that now the project fiber to the home has started.

Mrs Etnel indicated that no biding would be open for the project that cost more or less a quarter of a million guilders. This practice of the company is against all norms and method of the company.

The board of directors up to now has not fall in to the matter or try to find out what is going on with the illegal workers nor the bidding for the project.

Here again is where SMCU is indicating that Telem needs a CEO urgently and that the board of directors are not functioning in their supervisory roll. SMCU also want for the council of ministers to dismiss the board of director and install new members on the board that yes can function.

SMCU has not yet received an answer from the letter sent to the prime minister in connection with the meeting SMCU had requested.

What was notice by SMCU that member of parliament Mr. Christopher Emmanuel posted some questions and investigation in the illegal workers, but SMCU find that an investigation in Telem also has to be requested to investigate the board of directors and the management team of Telem which is not functioning.