Over the two last weekends, GNO raided a number of establishments, some restaurants in the tourist area, some in other island neighborhood.
A total of 18 workers were detained for being employed without a work permit.
GNC gets ZERO applause from me. The restaurants sector needs workers and there are none to be found, unless you hire illegals.
And because the Labor Department and DIMAS are paralyzed, there is NO legal avenue to apply for a work permit for those able-bodied individuals, already on island.
The small private establishments, those raided by GNC suffer the most, because they find it hard to compete with bigger organizations and branded hotels, who include good benefits in addition to pay. The mom and pop establishments are dying, and DPL and DIMAS fiddle their thumbs.
It is a power struggle between the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Labor, one wants to tighten the controls and the other is making perfunctory noises as if he is willing to loosen the restrictions, but in reality nothing is done.
MAIL FROM A RESTAURATEUR: I have some genuine, urgent HORECA concerns, yet I do not want to expose our restaurants so I would appreciate it if you could feature this in your column.
This past first quarter two of our employees resigned and changed for a non-HORECA day job. The few people that applied did not meet our standards. So, we are understaffed like the rest of Aruba. Years ago, on a cruise I stumbled upon the Red Dog Saloon in Anchorage, Alaska, where customers were greeted by a large sign in the room that said: “If the service and food is not up to your standards, we ask you to lower your standards!”
Is that what is awaits us in Aruba? Should we lower our standards? I meet young Arubans every day, they have no intention to enter HORECA, characterized by working evenings, weekends and holidays. The ones that do apply do not make a very solid impression, if they apply.
So, what will the future hold with hotels about to open and HORECA desperately looking to fill vacancies, with work permits frozen? Fiscal reform looms overhead and it will make Aruba very expensive, while unfortunately services will continue to slip.
With the weekly, self-congratulating announcements of our Minister of Tourism about the arrival of tourists, boating recovery to pre-Covid levels, I assure you, our visitors will not be well-served at short-handed establishments.
With our island depending on tourism and the young generation disinterested, we are facing a tremendous challenge. And following the raids we can safely say that the draconic, unrealistic freeze on work permits, is jeopardizing our livelihood.
BTW: We now must to deliver a werknemers registratie to DPL, but only at an appointment. Without that, a company cannot apply for any work permits. Our company requested an appointment at the start of February and was given one for April 29th, as a day in which to personally deliver the registratie! This is just an effective method to intentionally stall the process.
This is what 24ORA reported: During the weekend of March 25th & 26th of March 2022, Guarda nos Costa, Coast Guard, performed multiple checks at different businesses around Aruba. The following businesses were inspected: Irinian Bar & Rest, Tio Pepe, Zhou Gang Bar & Rest, Well Bar & Rest, Dreamhouse Bar & Rest, Bucuti Yacht Club, Sta. Cruz Bar, Anytime Bar & Rest, Bar di Charlie, Great Rich Bar & Restaurant, Jo-Ann Bar & Rest, Fermin’s Bar, Yen Bar & Rest, Lekker Bar & Rest, South Beach Centre, La Braise Restaurant, Hang out Sports bar, Gusto Night Club, Kiosks on the hotel strip, Sunshine Bar and Bochincha Container Yard.
The following businesses were fined for having workers with an illegal status: Irinian Bar & Restaurant, Jo-Ann Bar & Restaurant, La Braise Restaurant, Great Rich Bar & Restaurant, Bar di Charlie, Lekker Bar & Restaurant.
The nationalities of the persons without a valid permit in the aforementioned businesses were: Italian, Macedonian, Albanian, Venezuelan, Colombian, Ecuadorians, for a total of 11 persons
During the weekend of 1st and 2nd of April, Guarda nos Costa also visited other locations, among them: Le Braise Restaurant, Yen Bar & Restaurant, Golden Buddha Bar & Restaurant, KikoRiko, Los Cafeteros, Sabor Zuliana, Chalo Burger, Parillada de Frank, Torino Sports. The following businesses received fines, Kiko Riko, Le Braise, Parillada de Frank
The nationalities of those without a valid work permit: Venezuelan, Colombian, for a total of 7 persons.
