WILLEMSTAD - In the draft budget for 2025, the government has announced a plan to double the attendance fee for members of the Sociaal-Economische Raad (SER) from 150 to 300 guilders per meeting, with the possibility of further increasing it to 420 guilders.
The government emphasizes that the current compensation for SER members is insufficient to attract and retain qualified experts.
“The SER plays a crucial role as an advisory body for both the government and the Staten (Parliament) on socio-economic matters. The quality and depth of the advice provided directly depend on the expertise and engagement of its members,” stated the government.
Furthermore, a benchmark study is currently underway, which will compare the compensation with that of similar advisory bodies. According to the government, this research could lead to a further increase in the attendance fee, potentially reaching 420 guilders.
The decision will be applied retroactively from January 1, 2024, and is expected to cost the government approximately 108,000 guilders annually.