WILLEMSTAD – The government of Curaçao has received an overwhelming 3,000 applications for just 200 available civil service positions, according to Finance Minister Javier Silvania (MFK). This translates to an average of 15 applicants per vacancy, highlighting the strong demand for public sector jobs.
Filling Vacancies After Workforce Reductions
The available positions arose due to natural attrition and the replacement of employees who left through the Voluntary Departure Scheme (VVU)—a measure aimed at reducing public sector wage costs. The program impacted various government institutions, including education, the National Criminal Investigation Department (Landsrecherche), the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the courts, the prison system, and the Security Service.
A More Efficient Public Sector
Curaçao currently employs an estimated 4,000 civil servants, including personnel from Defense and the Coast Guard. As part of the Landspakket Curaçao reforms, the government aims to create a more efficient public sector with lower salary expenditures, ensuring financial sustainability while maintaining essential services.