WILLEMSTAD – The Ministry of Administration, Planning, and Public Service (BPD) acknowledges that a group of civil servants receives a significantly lower pension upon retirement due to certain allowances not being included in pension calculations. The ministry has announced plans to investigate the issue and seek a solution. This was discussed in a meeting with the General Pension Fund of Curaçao (APC) and the Human Resources and Organization (HRO) department.
Since the amendment of the Civil Servants’ Pension Ordinance (PLVO) in 2016, pensions have been calculated based on the average income over an employee’s career, rather than just the salary from the last two years of service. While the law states that allowances and benefits may be considered alongside base salary, this provision was never implemented. As a result, some civil servants receive a lower-than-expected pension, despite having received an allowance as a fixed part of their income for years.
The BPD ministry has tasked HRO with conducting the necessary calculations and preparations to implement a potential correction. The feasibility of a solution and the applicable timeframe for adjustments are currently under review. Additionally, authorities are examining whether current APC retirees may qualify for a pension correction.