WILLEMSTAD – Fundashon Nos Grandinan has formally requested Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas to take the initiative in introducing a national ordinance that defines a legally binding minimum living income. According to the organization, the absence of such a statutory income floor leaves Curaçao with a structural gap in legal certainty, particularly affecting older residents who depend on social security.
In a letter dated January 26, Nos Grandinan argues that policy measures, agreements, and temporary arrangements cannot replace formal legislation. As long as there is no legally enforceable minimum standard, the foundation says, there is no objective benchmark to assess whether social benefits and purchasing power measures are sufficient to guarantee a dignified standard of living.
The issue directly affects the General Old Age Pension (AOV), which, according to Nos Grandinan, remains below a realistic subsistence level even after recent adjustments.
The foundation refers to Article 23 of the Constitution of Curaçao, which assigns the government responsibility for ensuring social security and public welfare. Nos Grandinan maintains that this constitutional obligation requires clear legal norms, so that debates on indexation and poverty reduction are anchored to a defined legal reference point.
Without such legislation, the organization warns, government measures remain ad hoc and unpredictable, perpetuating uncertainty for citizens. To support its position, Nos Grandinan cites a December 2025 advisory from the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, which concluded that increases to the AOV without structural reforms would inevitably lead to new financial shortfalls. According to the foundation, this confirms that isolated adjustments do not provide a sustainable solution.
Nos Grandinan is calling on the government to take the lead in the legislative process and to clarify within what framework and timeframe a minimum income law would be developed. The organization argues that a national ordinance is essential to restore legal certainty and to safeguard dignified aging for current and future generations in Curaçao.
