WILLEMSTAD - Applications for social welfare in Curaçao have increased by 40 percent during the last six months. The corona crisis erupted in Curaçao in March. The amount that was set aside for 2020 for people on welfare is clearly not sufficient.
The Advisory Council has asked the government to indicate how the government intends to cope with the growth in the number of welfare recipients. The Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare wants to set up a solidarity fund for people who have lost their jobs.
However, the RvA has not been able to conclude from the draft budget for 2021 that a provision is being made to absorb a disappointing development in the labor market. "Nor can it be concluded from the draft budget for 2021 that a labor market policy is being implemented, with the aim of creating as many jobs as possible for those who will lose their jobs."
Since the labor market is expected to deteriorate due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the council advises the government to indicate in the Memorandum of Finance how the expected growth in the number of social assistance recipients will be financially absorbed.
Photo: Hensley Koeiman, minister of Labor and Social Affairs