Adjusting Social Assistance to Match Inflation
WILLEMSTAD – In just over two months since joining Curaçao’s Parliament, the MAN-PIN faction says it has demonstrated that it’s time for action—not empty promises. After gaining full parliamentary approval for adjusting the minimum wage for those aged 18 to 20 and ensuring the long-awaited indexation of AOV pensions, MAN-PIN has now introduced a new initiative: aligning social assistance (onderstand) with the rising cost of living.
The proposal, submitted to Parliament on Monday, July 21, lays the legal groundwork for an annual adjustment of social assistance in line with inflation, rather than leaving it to the discretion of the government.
While the economy has been growing since 2021—thanks in part to the solid foundation laid by MAN and PIN before the pandemic—the COVID crisis has brought increased poverty, especially for the most vulnerable. Prices of essential items like fuel, hygiene products, and basic goods and services have surged dramatically. For those relying on government assistance, these price hikes have made daily life even more difficult.
Despite existing government subsidies for rent, school transport, and utilities, people on onderstand still struggle to afford healthy food and essential hygiene products like soap, detergent, feminine products, toothpaste, and deodorant. This financial pressure is contributing to a rise in children going to school without breakfast, as well as chronic health issues, emotional strain, and mental health problems.
According to MAN-PIN, automatically and structurally adjusting social assistance to match inflation should not be controversial. Most onderstand recipients are individuals unable to work, and the assistance amount remains below the minimum wage, which itself is annually indexed. The government has already received several recommendations from experts about the need to adjust the social safety net.
MAN-PIN is confident that this new proposal will gain support from all parliamentary factions and is calling for swift action to ease the financial burden on the most vulnerable in society.
