SER Curaçao advises on proposed minimum wage increase

WILLEMSTAD, November 15, 2022 – The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao today issued its advice to the Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) Ms. Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia on the proposed increase of the gross legal hourly minimum wage. The advice has been adopted in the plenary council meeting held last Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

On September 12, 2022, the advisory body received a request from the minister to advise on a draft ministerial decree, with general effect, amending the amount of the minimum hourly wage, referred to in article 9, first paragraph, second paragraph, part c, third paragraph, part c and fourth paragraph, part c, of the National Ordinance on Minimum Wages (P.B.1972, no. 110).

Underlying that request for advice is Minister Larmonie-Cecilia’s desire (1) to bring the gross minimum hourly wage in line with the calculated subsistence level, (2) to promote the labor participation of those not working, and (3) to mitigate the negative effect of the drop in purchasing power on the gross domestic product (GDP) by means of maintaining the purchasing power of part of Curaçao’s working population.

Pursuant to the National Minimum Wage Ordinance, before a decision is made on a minimum wage adjustment, the SER is given the opportunity to give advice on the matter.