Only four construction sites inspected in first half of 2026 as VSA cites capacity constraints

GREAT BAY--Only four construction sites were inspected by authorities during the first six months of 2026, despite construction remaining one of St. Maarten’s most visible and active sectors, according to information provided by government.

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, VSA, disclosed that one construction company and four construction sites were inspected during the first half of the year, acknowledging that the number was below the ministry’s 2026 target because of capacity constraints.

The figure stood out against the broader inspection activity reported by the ministry. During the same six-month period, the Inspectorate carried out 247 inspections, 89 re-inspections and seven joint inspections. Government said 585 labor inspections were completed during all of 2025, while 400 were planned for 2026.

VSA has explained that the lower overall target for 2026 is intended to allow inspectors to carry out more thorough and legally sound inspections while additional personnel are trained and recruited.

However, the ministry also acknowledged that the Labor Inspectorate does not currently have sufficient trained personnel to operate at full strength.

The staffing situation provides additional context for the limited number of construction inspections. At present, two inspectors lead two inspection teams, while two additional controllers are being trained or recruited. The Inspectorate also faces transportation limitations, with three vehicles available across four divisions responsible for island-wide coverage.

Labor inspections are intended to monitor compliance with areas including working hours, overtime requirements and work-permit regulations, making enforcement particularly relevant in sectors that rely heavily on labor-intensive operations.

The budget discussion also exposed a significant information gap surrounding undocumented labor and its possible effect on government revenue.

When asked how much money government believes is being lost through undocumented labor, VSA said there is no official government estimate. The Inspectorate does not hold such data, while VSA indicated that any official calculation of revenue losses would fall under the Ministry of Finance.

Government therefore currently has no quantified figure showing how much revenue may be lost through workers operating outside the formal labor, tax or social insurance systems.

The Inspectorate also said it does not have data showing the financial impact on Social and Health Insurances, SZV, from labor non-compliance. There is currently no joint database between the Inspectorate and SZV that could be used to calculate such losses.

Questions were also raised during the budget process about whether the National Institute for Professional Advancement, NIPA, could play a stronger role in preparing local workers for employment in the construction sector.

VSA acknowledged that strengthening support and directing NIPA resources toward workforce development could help address the issue, subject to available resources. However, government confirmed that there is presently no formal collaboration involving the Inspectorate, NIPA and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, ECYS, specifically aimed at supporting the construction workforce.

The disclosure comes as government continues to place greater emphasis on workforce development and increasing participation of local workers in the labor market.

VSA has identified initiatives including the NESC Get Skilled Pilot Project, the National Job Fair and Employability Enhancement Workshops as part of its broader effort to improve skills matching and workforce participation.

At the enforcement level, however, the ministry continues to face staffing and operational limitations.

Government said increasing inspection capacity will require additional trained personnel, while the onboarding and training of two additional controllers is among the immediate steps being taken to strengthen the Inspectorate.

The limited number of construction-site inspections also raises broader questions about how effectively government can monitor working conditions, work-permit compliance and other labor requirements across an industry with activity taking place throughout the country.

For now, the budget answers establish three clear gaps: construction inspections are running below target, government cannot quantify the financial impact of undocumented labor, and there is no formal cross-ministry arrangement linking labor enforcement with local construction workforce development.

Those issues leave government with both an enforcement challenge and a workforce-development challenge as it moves into the final months of 2026.

‍