The President of the FTA union, Hose “Jomar” Figaroa, has called on the Government of Aruba to stop thinking solely about the first legalization group and to start acting proactively.
According to Figaroa, the country urgently needs an Integrated Migration Plan to manage the influx of workers that will come in the future, especially with the upcoming hotel and economic developments on the horizon.
From an ‘Admission Plan’ to a ‘Migration Plan’
Figaroa explained that for many years Aruba has had an “admission plan” which only stipulates the requirements to admit a person to the island. However, the union leader insists that this vision falls short because the process does not end when a person submits their paperwork.
“Aruba needs a complete integrated migration plan. Because once a worker enters, you must have a structural answer: How are you going to ensure they have a place to live? How will their transportation be structured? How will their medical expenses be managed? All of these have a direct impact on our economy,” Figaroa stated.
The union points out that, given the number of hotels that will be built, the commercial sector has no choice but to import migrant workers to fill these vacancies and sustain the country’s economy. For this reason, the criteria and requirements must be predefined proactively.
The errors of the ’80s and ’90s must not be repeated
Figaroa issued a serious warning, recalling that Aruba already went through a similar situation at the end of the 1980s and 1990s. According to the union leader, “apparently we have not learned from our mistakes.” He explained that during that era, the lack of a structural policy led the country to a surplus in the labor market after over-importing people to fill a temporary need.
“We know very well that ‘the cow is drowning’ (the situation is critical), because with the hotel permits that were granted, it was already known that those rooms would be built and that people would be needed to work there. We know through statistics that our population is aging and that we need people to fill those roles. We cannot wait until the last minute, because rushed soup turns out salty,” he reiterated.
Draft concept on the table and FTA’s contribution
Despite criticisms regarding the structural delay of this plan, which should have been implemented years ago, Figaroa confirmed that the union recently received an invitation from the Government to evaluate a new policy concept.
The FTA union, being the largest labor organization in the hospitality and commercial sector, will actively participate in these meetings to provide advice and contribute to the labor migration policy. The main goal is to ensure that migrant workers who enter do so within a legal framework, and with all the necessary social conditions for Aruba’s economy to continue running correctly and sustainably.