SER Curaçao advises Parliament on intern compensation, calls for clear rules on ‘orphaned’ legislation

WILLEMSTAD, July 29, 2025 – The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao today issued advisory guidance at the request of Parliament concerning proposed legislation requiring companies to provide financial compensation to interns. The legislative proposal was initially introduced on May 5, 2025, by former Parliament member Gwendell Mercelina Jr. of the Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP).

In delivering its advice, the SER highlighted a notable procedural issue. The council pointed out that when Mercelina submitted his legislative initiative, he either knew or reasonably should have known he would not return as a Member of Parliament following the March 2025 general elections. Mercelina, indeed, did not retain his seat in the newly elected Parliament.

Currently, Curaçao has no explicit procedures governing how to proceed with legislative proposals when their original sponsor leaves office. The SER cited practices from the Netherlands, where the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) enables another legislator to adopt such proposals or allows them to lapse after a period of inactivity. This prevents proposals from becoming indefinitely stalled or ‘orphaned’.

The SER therefore urged Curaçao’s Parliament to consider establishing similar procedures. Implementing clear guidelines would help avoid legislative stagnation and ensure the responsible, transparent, and efficient handling of proposals in the legislative process.

Besides procedural concerns, the council emphasized the significant societal and economic importance of establishing clear standards for internship compensation. Many young people in Curaçao depend on internships to transition successfully from education into the workforce. The introduction of mandatory compensation could provide more equitable opportunities, especially benefiting students from financially vulnerable families, and help employers clearly understand their obligations.

“Introducing fair compensation standards for internships is crucial to ensuring equal opportunities for all students, while providing clarity and predictability for businesses”, the SER states.

The advisory opinion will now inform Parliament’s ongoing deliberation and consideration of the proposed legislation.