PHILIPSBURG--The United Federation of the Windward Island (UFA) has forwarded a number of labour issues to Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson that it would like to be addressed in the tripartite committee meeting on July 29.

One of the issues mentioned is the correct calculation of minimum wage by 40 hours per week, five days per week, and eight hours per day, making a total of 173.33 hours per month. The UFA indicated what the salary distinctions should be for ordinary level skills workers, junior skills workers and senior skills workers.

The cost of living adjustment was also mentioned as a definite point of discussion. The UFA said, citing the CBS annual report, 100 per cent of the adjustment should be implemented on top of the minimum wages.

Another point of the union would like to see discussed is short term contracts for seasonal contract workers. Only seasonal employees should be employed during the seasonal periods and for six days per work week. Also, an off-season workweek for five days will be discussed, which would see no off-seasonal employees with seasonal contracts.

The UFA also suggested the issue of sub-contractors and having them work on a continued basis and not contracted for a period of time. The union argues that sub-contractors should not out-source permanent employees, thereby creating unemployment and "creating slave wages and poverty."

The union is also calling for mediators for St. Maarten and having time-share laws in place for time-share workers.