WILLEMSTAD - The allocation of a 1,000-guilder end-of-year bonus to staff at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has sparked significant dissatisfaction among civil servants. While CMC employees will receive this bonus in December, other public servants feel excluded and disgruntled.
The announcement by Finance Minister Javier Silvania has created division within the civil service, with union leader George Hernandez of the ABVO even calling it “contempt” by the government.
The confusion arose after Silvania announced the bonus via social media on August 30. It was unclear whether other civil servants would also qualify for the bonus, leading to angry reactions from those who felt they too deserved a financial reward for their hard work.
According to Hernandez, the union received a flood of calls from employees demanding clarity on the issue.
In a statement, Silvania clarified that the end-of-year bonus is exclusively for CMC staff. This decision is part of a broader financial plan where the government will allocate three million guilders annually to CMC from 2025 to 2028.
Angry Civil Servants
Union leader Hernandez is upset, calling the decision unfair. He points out that civil servants have not received a similar bonus since 2014, despite their crucial role in public service.
He argues that the modest 150-guilder bonus received by some civil servants is insignificant compared to the 1,000 guilders given to CMC staff.
“This is a slap in the face to civil servants who also work hard for the community,” says Hernandez. The union is demanding that the government reconsider its decision and ensure equal treatment for all public sector employees.
The ABVO has requested an urgent meeting with the Central Organized Consultation on Civil Service Affairs (CGOA) to address the issue.