Theme: Tripartism – Working Together for a Stronger Sint Maarten
Today, as we celebrate Labor Day, we celebrate you, the hardworking people of Sint
Maarten.
We recognize the teachers shaping young minds, the justice workers maintaining order, the
civil servants ensuring continuity, the hospitality and tourism workers welcoming the world,
the construction workers building our infrastructure, the utility workers keeping essential
services running, our nurses and healthcare professionals caring for our community, and
every worker across every sector who contributes daily to the strength of this nation. Your
dedication keeps our country moving forward.
This year’s theme, “Tripartism,” is more than a principle it is a necessity. True progress
requires strong, structured, and consistent collaboration between Government, Employers,
and Workers. When these three pillars function in balance, we create stability. When one is
weakened or unheard, the entire system feels the impact.
Tripartism demands meaningful dialogue not symbolic consultation. It calls for
transparency,
accountability, and the genuine inclusion of workers’ voices in national decision-making. It
requires that policies affecting labor, wages, social protection, and working conditions are
shaped through engagement, not imposed without consultation.
Labor Day is not only a celebration of past victories; it is a call to action. Workers deserve:
Fair and equitable wages
Safe and healthy working environments
Respect for collective bargaining rights
Modern and enforceable labor legislation
Social protection that safeguards dignity
Sustainable economic growth cannot exist without worker security. A thriving business
climate cannot be separated from decent working conditions. Government policy must
balance fiscal responsibility with social justice. This is the foundation of real tripartism.
As workers’ representatives within the Tripartite Committee, we remain steadfast in our
commitment to defend workers’ rights, strengthen social dialogue, and promote industrial
peace built on fairness and mutual respect. Partnership does not mean silence it means
constructive engagement with a clear purpose and shared responsibility.
Let this Labor Day renew our collective determination to deepen cooperation, uphold
workers’ dignity, and ensure that development in Sint Maarten benefits all not a few, but
everyone who labors to build this country. Together, through strong tripartite
collaboration,
we can secure a future rooted in fairness, opportunity, and shared progress.
On behalf of the workers’ representatives of the Tripartite Committee, we wish you a proud
and empowered Labor Day.
In solidarity,
Sharon Cangieter
