ANSE MARCEL — After months of uncertainty, St. Martin Beach Resort & Spa employees face mass layoffs as management proposes cutting 122 of 130 positions amid restructuring proceedings. This represents a 94% reduction in workforce, leaving only eight employees at the former Secrets Resort & Spa St. Martin.
The Works Council (CSE) strongly rejected the proposal, labeling it a “brutal dismantling” of the company and criticizing management for using economic difficulties as a rationale for job cuts. They argue these layoffs stem from management’s failures, not genuine economic necessity.
The crisis began when the resort abruptly closed in December 2025. The hotel is currently undergoing judicial restructuring after ownership filed for redressement judiciaire in Guadeloupe’s Commercial Court, with employees hoping for a recovery plan that would preserve jobs.
The CSE claims the proposed Job Protection Plan lacks adequate safeguards and fails to consider the local labor market’s realities, making it difficult for over a hundred displaced workers to find alternative employment. They allege management dismissed proposals aimed at improving worker support and protections, stating, “This plan sacrifices almost the entire workforce.”
Concerns over psychosocial risks among workers due to the uncertainty of layoffs have arisen, with representatives criticizing the lack of transparency in the restructuring process and questioning management’s compliance with health and safety obligations.
The layoffs are expected to impact not just the hotel, but also local businesses reliant on tourism, such as taxi operators and suppliers. The CSE insists that future decisions should be made transparently, considering the welfare of both employees and the community.
Legal action has not been ruled out as the CSE aims to challenge the restructuring plan, demanding its withdrawal and more comprehensive support for affected employees. “This plan is unjustified, irresponsible and unacceptable,” they declared, leaving the futures of the resort and its employees uncertain.
