The year ends with good news for many persons with the least income. Old age pension AOV recipients got their retroactive increase (see related story) to a maximum 1,338 Netherlands Antillean guilders per month, said higher than those of the other two Dutch Caribbean countries Aruba and Curaçao, while a mandatory yearly cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has reportedly also been ensured.
The minium hourly wage will also be indexed per April 1, 2024, by 4.5% from NAf. 9.95 to NAf. 10.40, or NAf. 1,801 per month. By comparison, Curaçao raised its lowest legal salary from NAf. 9.62 to NAf. 10.70 at the start of 2023, but will again do so by 5.4% to NAf. 11.28 per hour or NAf. 1,953 monthly as of next year.
According to the 2022 census, about 25.5% of St. Maarten households made less than NAf. 1,651 per month, the poverty threshold of the European Union (EU). More than half earned below the median income of NAf. 2,750 and 10% had to survive on less than NAf. 516.
These figures make clear that raising the lowest incomes at least somewhat was justified, especially considering how expensive things have become. Greatly expanding the so-called basket of basic goods for which government sets maximum rates combined with the necessary enforcement controls seems to be keeping prices of essential products down and fuel tariffs thankfully dropped as well.
Teachers and justice workers also received no doubt welcome word of – be it long overdue – pay hikes. In addition, civil servants are to get a 2% annual indexation from 2024.
It will still not be easy for many of those involved to get by, but every little bit can certainly help. Happy New Year.
