WILLEMSTAD - The unions want to know urgently when the wage increase for civil servants will be paid. The government will continue to withhold payment until there is more room in the national budget. Recently Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath announced that the wage increase will not be paid because there is simply not enough money in the treasury to do this. Even though it is a right that civil servants have, the government cannot comply at this time of crisis.
The unions are now demanding a specific date, according to sources. They find it unacceptable for the government to break the law and make decisions without consultation. The union leaders say they plan to go to court to force the government to pay the civil servants.