WILLEMSTAD - The Pisas government plans to eliminate the 25 percent salary cut for ministers. Civil servants will have to wait a little longer for their full salary. This is reported by the Advisory Council (RvA). This group will also be paid out in full in January 2024.
A condition for the liquidity support, which Curacao received due to a budget deficit during the corona pandemic, was a cut on the salaries of ministers, civil servants and equals. An advice from the Council shows that the government will reverse the salary cut as of 1 July 2023, but will start with the political authorities. The ministers and parliamentarians will not have to hand in 25 percent of their salary from July 2023. Civil servants and others in equal positions can only count on a full salary in January 2024.
The RvA wonders whether phasing out the discount is even feasible at all. In order to cancel the salary discount, the Standards for Top Incomes Act must first be passed. In addition, the deterioration of the social funds at the Social Insurance Bank, the uncertainties of the CMC hospital, and the unfavorable economic developments with high inflation are side notes. According to the council, reversing the 12.5 percent could also have a negative effect on the national budget. Next week, the advice of the RvA will be discussed in the central committee meeting of parliament.