WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao government has revised its proposed legislation on vacation pay increases after both opposition party MAN-PIN and the Council of Advice (RvA) concluded that the original version violated constitutional and procedural rules.
The government had attempted to combine the vacation pay increase for political officeholders with that of civil servants—two categories that must, under the law, be handled through separate legislative procedures.
MAN-PIN Sounded the Alarm First
During last week’s parliamentary debate, MAN-PIN warned that the government was following an improper legal route by merging both measures into a single bill. The party argued this was not only ethically questionable, but also contrary to the country’s formal requirements.
Changes to compensation for Members of Parliament and ministers require a two-thirds majority (14 votes), while amendments affecting civil servants need only 11 votes. By placing both in the same bill, the government bypassed constitutional safeguards.
Council of Advice Confirms Errors
On 28 November, the Council of Advice issued a sharply worded letter echoing MAN-PIN’s concerns. The council stated that the government:
failed to follow the mandatory advisory procedure,
wrongly combined two unrelated legal provisions, and
ignored earlier warnings from the RvA.
The council questioned why the cabinet neglected clear procedural obligations laid out in Curaçao’s Staatsregeling (Constitution).
Government Acknowledges Mistakes
According to MAN-PIN, the government has now acknowledged that the criticisms were valid. A Nota van Wijziging (Amendment Note) has been submitted that separates the bills, ensuring only the civil-servant vacation-pay adjustment proceeds in the current legislation. The proposal for politicians will follow a completely separate trajectory, as required by law.
Opposition: “This Shows Why Parliamentary Oversight Matters”
MAN-PIN says it is satisfied that “sound judgment has prevailed,” adding that the episode demonstrates the importance of rigorous parliamentary scrutiny to prevent improper or unconstitutional legislation.
The revised bill for civil servants is expected to return to the parliamentary agenda soon, while the political-officeholder proposal will undergo its own formal advisory and voting process.