The delegation was accompanied by members who gathered at Wilhelminaplein in the city centre.
WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas (MFK) has agreed with the pensioners' organisations and labour unions to submit a proposal for increasing the general old age provision AOV early this week. Social Insurance Bank SVB will then perform the necessary calculations. The intention is for the pension to increase effective January 1, 2026, by a mutually acceptable amount to be determined later this month.
After that, the AOV system – including a new indexation model – will be adjusted to ensure it remains future-proof, transparent, feasible and financially sustainable. Government is developing a comprehensive package of measures for the structural financing of the fund, which will be implemented in 2026 and 2027.
This is stated in a release by the Ministry of General Affairs regarding the meeting with with UPAH (“Union di Penshonado pa Adelanto i Hustisia”) and representatives of three trade union federations. On Wednesday parties will meet with SVB to discuss the raise.
Wendell Muelen of the union federation SSS indicated that there is an opportunity for further discussions. He pointed out that the Council of Ministers has not made any decisions regarding the amount.
He also said the prime minister, based on the group’s explanation, indicated that he had gained insight into the other side of the coin. “Disputes of this magnitude must be resolved through dialogue,” according to Muelen.
In the statement, Pisas emphasised that there is a difference of opinion with the pensioners’ organisations regarding the method of indexing the AOV benefit, and that a lawsuit is pending on this matter, which government cannot intervene in.
He also pointed out that full retroactive indexation would lead to unaffordable amounts for the country, causing the social security fund and the country of Curaçao to face enormous financial difficulties, with all the ensuing consequences for the stability of government finances.
UPAH chairman Oswin Martina said the meeting had proceeded in a positive atmosphere. He indicated that the group provided information and explanations during the consultation, resulting in understanding on the part of government for the group’s position, which advocates primarily for indexation, not an increase in the AOV benefit.
The law stipulates that indexation must be based on real economic growth and therefore should begin in 2021. The group suggested that, based on the percentages from 2021 onwards, the full AOV amount should be Cg. 1,086 as of January 2026.
As mentioned, the pensioners will meet with SVB’s management on Wednesday. The goal is to calculate the amount of overdue indexation. Subsequently, it will be determined how this can be paid out.
Representatives of the “Sentral Solidaridat Sindikal” (SSS), “Sindikato di Trahadonan di Kodela” (STK) and “Central General de Trahadornan di Corsow” (CGTC) also attended Friday’s meeting. On government’s side, in addition to the prime minister, Minister of Social Development, Labour and Welfare SOAW Charetti America-Francisca and the Minister of Justice Shalten Hato (both MFK) were present.
