WILLEMSTAD – Employees across multiple ministries believe that integrity reports often disappear into a black hole after they are submitted.
The government's 2026 Integrity Baseline Scan repeatedly identifies a lack of feedback and follow-up as one of the weakest elements of the public sector's integrity framework. At the Ministry of Economic Development, 45 percent of respondents said feedback after reports is rarely or never provided. At SOAW, the figure was 43 percent.
Researchers describe this as a serious risk because employees who do not receive feedback may lose confidence in the reporting process.
The report notes that confidence in reporting systems depends not only on the ability to submit reports but also on visible evidence that concerns are taken seriously and addressed appropriately.
Without that confidence, employees may choose to remain silent even when they observe questionable behavior or potential misconduct.
According to the assessment, improving communication following reports could be one of the quickest ways for ministries to strengthen trust and improve their overall integrity culture.