A debate has ensued in Curaçao (see related story) on increasing the vacation allowance for public sector employees from 6% to 8% of their annual salary, nearly a month’s pay. The problem is that government’s draft law also applies to sitting ministers and parliamentarians.
It’s no small matter either, as the hike for civil servants and special schools staff alone reportedly costs 8.6 million Caribbean guilders this year, Cg. 9.5 million in 2026, Cg. 10 million in 2027 and Cg. 10.4 million in 2028. Public administrators and legislators will add respectively Cg. 153,000 and Cg. 300,000.
But that’s not the main point of contention. The opposition considers it inappropriate for politicians to give themselves a raise, arguing that this should be left for the next governing term.
It first appeared that ruling party MFK would back the Pisas III Cabinet’s proposal, but faction leader Gilbert Doran clarified that he too is against including ministers and elected representatives. His main reasons are current socioeconomic challenges facing much of the population and uncertainty over indexation of the old age pension AOV.
It indeed seems like a good principle to leave enhancement of own financial benefits for the future Council of Ministers and Parliament. However, that also implies the current group must be willing to approve such for their – still unknown – successors.
