ORANJESTAD, Aruba – 28 di April 2019: Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA) a revisa e publicacion Economic Policy di 2019-2022 emiti recientemente door di Gobierno di Aruba y ta haya necesario pa aclaria e informacion di salario di trahadonan den turismo cu ta inclui den e documento.
Riba pagina 26 di “A Strong and Resilient Economy”, tin mencion di data di Censo di 2010 cu un porcentahe masha halto di empleado den e sector hotelero y restaurant ta cobra salario minimo, y cu nan ta considera como un grupo vulnerabel.
AHATA a completa un estudio di manpower di 22 hotel y timeshare miembro cu ta ofrece empleo directamente na 7,560 ciudadano di Aruba. E estudio a indica cu solamente 3% di e empleadonan di AHATA su hotelnan ta gana salario minimo. Ta importante pa agrega cu mayoria empleado den servicio di e industria di turismo cu ta gana bou di 2000 florin (p.e. housekeeping, food and beverage, tour guides, etc.) tambe ta ricibi tipnan halto sin obligacion di impuesto. Pa tal motibo, nan entrada ta mas di loke ta raporta na gobierno. E entrada adicional y no raporta ta genera un actividad economico via e poder di compra di e consumido.
Durante ultimo añanan, AHATA a observa declaracionnan haci di varios lider den comunidad cu ta malinformando riba pago den sector turistico. Ta considera e informacion robes aki como un estorbo grandi p’e industria turismo y economia local, ya cu por demotiva e poblacion local pa tin interes den solicita pa trabou den e pilar economico di nos isla.
Companianan den e sector ta raporta retonan grandi den haya candidatonan cualifica pa varios posicion disponibel y AHATA ta urgi lidernan local pa considera e data completo prome cu saca conclusion y duna declaracion. AHATA ta aplaudi e esfuerso di nos gobierno pa diversifica nos economia y educacion, pero ta recorda cu ta keda importante cu e industria primario por conta cu un forsa laboral solido pa garantisa un exito sostenibel.
Mientrastanto, AHATA ta contento di tuma nota cu e Economic Policy ta inclui identificacion di falta di flexibilidad den regulacion di e mercado laboral como un bottleneck pa haci negoshi y nivel di produccion, mientras ta recomenda reforma di ley laboral.
AHATA ta respalda un revision di e regulacion cu por impedi e capacidad di Aruba pa yega un nivel di productividad mas efectivo. Den un rapport recien di IMF tocante Aruba, a mustra cu “e regulacion di mercado laboral ta rigido, loke ta impedi e movecion laboral y crecemento di trabou.” IMF a recomenda cu e maneho mester promove flexibilidad di mercado laboral y provee proteccion na empleadonan (via seguro di desempleo) na luga di trabou, apoyando un sector priva productivo pa stimula nos economia.
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AHATA IS CONCERNED ABOUT MISLEADING TOURISM SALARY INFORMATION
ORANJESTAD, Aruba – April 28th 2019: The Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association has reviewed the recently published Economic Policy for 2019-2022 of the Aruba government, and wishes to clarify employment salary information included in the document.
On Page 26 of the “A Strong and Resilient Economy” policy, it is stated that according to 2010 census data there is a high percentage of workers in the hotel and restaurant sector that grosses a low (minimum wage) income and considered a “vulnerable” group.
AHATA has completed a manpower study of 22 hotel and timeshare members, which directly employ a total of 7,560 residents of Aruba, and can report that only 3% of their employees are earning minimum wage. It is important to add that a vast majority of workers in the tourism industry that earn below AFL 2000 (i.e. Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, tour guides, etc.) also earn significant untaxed tips, and therefore their total income is beyond what is reported to the local tax office. The additional and unreported income generates significant economic activity through the consumer purchasing power it enables.
Over the years, we have observed statements made by a variety of leaders in the community that is misleading regarding the tourism sector’s wages. We consider this misleading information to be of great detriment to the tourism industry and the local economy, as it can deter the local population from applying for jobs in the pillar of our island’s economy.
Companies within the sector already report great challenges in finding qualified candidates for the various positions available, and AHATA urges local leaders to consider the full reality of data prior to distributing incomplete information. AHATA applauds the efforts to diversify Aruba’s economy and educational focus, however it is important that the primary industry can count on a robust workforce to ensure sustained success.
Meanwhile, AHATA was encouraged to note that the Economic Policy includes the identification of lack of flexibility in the labor market regulations as a bottleneck for doing business and productivity levels, while recommending reform of labor laws (Annex E).
AHATA endorses a review of the regulation that can impede Aruba’s ability to reach a more effective productivity level. In IMF’s recent report on Aruba, they illustrated that “the labor market regulation is rigid, impeding labor mobility and job growth”. The IMF recommends that policy should promote labor market flexibility and provide protection for workers (via unemployment insurance) rather than jobs, hereby supporting a productive private sector to stimulate our economy.