WILLEMSTAD - Civil servants on Curaçao are still waiting for their full vacation allowance, and political tensions are rising as the issue remains stalled in Parliament. PAR MP Shaheen Elhage has urged Parliament Chair Fergino Brownbill to fast-track the legislation, while MAN-PIN warns that the government has improperly added a salary increase for ministers and MPs into the same bill.
Elhage emphasizes that civil servants were promised a higher vacation allowance as far back as 2023, but the government has yet to fulfill that commitment. The increase could not be paid last year due to financial constraints.
In 2025, public servants received 6%, even though 8% had been agreed. A bill to correct this shortfall—along with the remaining 2% owed for 2025—has been completed, but it has still not been scheduled for debate. Elhage has asked Brownbill to place the bill “as soon as possible” on the agenda.
MAN-PIN Flags Serious Procedural Issues
MAN-PIN’s faction leader Giselle Mc William says the bill contains a major problem: the government has added an unmotivated salary increase for ministers and Members of Parliament to the same legislation. According to her, this violates the Constitution.
Under the Staatsregeling, any change to the remuneration of parliamentarians must:
be approved with a two-thirds majority, and
first be submitted to the Council of Advice (RvA).
Neither requirement was followed, says MAN-PIN.
Split the Bill, Parties Say
To avoid delays, MAN-PIN proposes splitting the legislation:
The vacation allowance for civil servants can be passed immediately with a simple majority, ensuring workers receive their overdue payments on time.
The salary increase for ministers and MPs must be handled separately under the stricter two-thirds procedure.
Both PAR and MAN-PIN want quick action—albeit for different reasons.
PAR is focused on delivering what civil servants are owed, while MAN-PIN warns that procedural violations could delay the process even further and undermine public trust.
Both parties are calling on the Parliament Chair and the government to clarify the situation and move swiftly toward a lawful solution.