WILLEMSTAD - MFK Member of Parliament Maria Nita is calling on the government to urgently implement a structural and humanitarian solution for the large number of undocumented people living and working on Curaçao.
In a letter to Minister of Justice Shalten Hato, Nita warns that the current situation is “no longer sustainable” and, according to several recent reports, is placing increasing social, economic, and financial pressure on the country.
Growing Financial and Social Impact
Nita cites analyses from multiple institutions — including the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Kolff Commission (EBA), Amnesty International, and the Ministry of Finance — all of which conclude that the presence of a large undocumented population heavily affects:
the national budget
the healthcare system
the labor market
the social security system
At the same time, she warns, Curaçao loses millions of guilders annually in uncollected taxes and social premiums. The informal labor market continues to expand without oversight, increasing the risk of labor exploitation.
Call for a Clear Action Plan
Nita is asking the Minister to provide clarity on the concrete steps being taken toward regulation. She wants to know:
how the process for a humanitarian regularization initiative can be accelerated
what measures are needed to register people without legal status
what economic and social effects such a policy would have
how the government will strengthen protections against exploitation
which communication channels will be most effective in reaching affected communities
A Sustainable and Fair Approach
According to Nita, any solution must be both humane and sustainable. Regulating the undocumented population is necessary, she says, to organize the labor market, protect workers’ rights, and secure revenues for the social security system.
The MFK faction expects the minister to respond within the established parliamentary deadlines and to outline how the government intends to move forward with a long-awaited humanitarian approach.