Beauty salon owners in Aruba have expressed concern over what they describe as an unjust situation regarding legally hired foreign employees. Various business owners report that after assuming significant financial burdens for permits, taxes, airfare, and housing, many employees abandon their positions shortly after receiving work permits. These workers frequently move to informal home-based businesses, leaving the original employers understaffed and forced to restart the costly hiring process entirely.
The problem is exacerbated by the current difficulty in obtaining new permits for beauty salons, which owners claim is nearly impossible despite their compliance with regulations. Consequently, the informal sector is allowed to grow without facing the same financial obligations. A report by DIARIO at the end of 2025 highlighted this trend, documenting a rental property where a tenant constructed an illegal salon by breaking walls and installing extra plumbing for hair and makeup services.
In their opinion, Aruba must introduce some form of protection, commitment, and retention for salon owners who invest, pay taxes, and maintain legal operations. They argue it is unfair that those following the law are pushed against the wall and penalized, while informal competition continues to grow without the same responsibilities or costs.
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