WILLEMSTAD – More than 180 workers, mothers and fathers who work at Venetto Hotel & Casino and Denny’s Restaurant said enough is enough! Yesterday in the early hours of the afternoon they stopped working and went outside to protest. As is already known, yesterday was the ultimatum that the employees had given to the Company to receive their salaries, for which they have worked and to which they are obviously entitled. After the day began and the workers observed that they would not yet receive their payments, they started a strike and asked for the presence of a Horecaf representative on the site.
The President of the Trade Union of Horecaf, sr. Keneth Valpoort showed up at the site and met immediately with the workers. In the middle of the meeting they were informed that they would begin to process the workers’ payment. But only for employees of Denny’s Restaurant. But only a partial payment. For this reason, Denny’s workers, despite having received part of their payments, decided to strike and join together with the employees of both the Hotel and the Casino.
At that moment Valpoort called the Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare mr. Hensley Koeiman to inform him of the situation and to verify how this could be resolved. Minister Koeiman informed that the Government does not enter into these discrepancies with the companies that are in the private sector but that he would make an appearance at the site to see where he could help and so he did. Upon his arrival, Koeiman listened briefly to the President of Horecaf and to some of the employees, explaining the situation.
Today at 8.30 the Minister offered to meet with the President of Horecaf together with the group representing the 180 workers on behalf of the Government together with the Lawyers to help in the search for solutions.
What annoys the workers the most is that the person who works as a Human Resources Consultant and takes care of the salaries, went into hiding and did not show up anymore, did not talk to the press, went out through a back door and started in his car and left. After this meeting with the Minister the group will return to the Hotel to meet with their colleagues and discuss what other steps can be taken to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, Denny’s Restaurant and Venetto Hotel & Casino will remain closed to the public.
