WILLEMSTAD – More than 11,000 people on Curaçao are currently employed on temporary contracts, representing about 16.8 percent of the workforce. A large share of these are so-called zero-hour contracts, which the opposition party MAN-PIN argues create deep insecurity and open the door to exploitation.

Workers with zero-hour contracts often do not know how many hours they will be given or how much they will earn by the end of the month. In the Netherlands, such contracts have largely been abolished due to their negative impact on employees.

To address the issue, MAN-PIN has submitted a draft law to restrict the use of zero-hour contracts. Under the proposal, these contracts would only be permitted in specific cases and for limited periods—such as during illness, pregnancy, or temporary workload peaks lasting no more than three months. If employers misuse the arrangement, the contract would automatically convert into one with fixed hours.

Party representative Yael Plet stressed that the legislation is designed to give workers more protection and stability. “Without a steady income, people cannot get a loan, buy a house or car, and often cannot even take a vacation,” Plet said. “This has not only financial but also social and emotional consequences. Our party stands with the working population, not with employers who exploit them.”