WILLEMSTAD - The Central Committee of the Parliament of Curaçao will resume its meeting on Thursday to discuss several significant legislative proposals. The most notable item on the agenda is the government’s plan to increase the vacation allowance for civil servants, ministers, and current and former Members of Parliament.
The government argues that raising the allowance is necessary to adjust compensation to current economic conditions, though the measure carries financial implications that must be incorporated into the First Supplementary Budget of 2025, which will also be debated during the session.
The proposal would increase the vacation allowance from 6% to 8% of annual salary. According to earlier reporting, this adjustment could amount to “nearly an extra month’s salary” in vacation pay for many government employees.
The revised supplementary budget aims to create a realistic financial picture for the remainder of the fiscal year, accounting for new expenditures and reallocations within government spending.
Oversight law for digital payment service providers also on the agenda
Another major agenda item is the new National Ordinance on Supervision of Payment Service Providers. The law seeks to establish clear regulatory standards for fintech companies, digital payment platforms, and other providers of payment services. With digital transactions increasingly common, the proposal is intended to strengthen consumer protection and give the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten expanded supervisory tools.
During the meeting, representatives from WJZ, the Central Bank, the Fintech Association, and the Bankers Association will provide a technical briefing on the content and implications of the legislation.
Additional reforms to modernize Curaçao’s governance framework
The committee will also review newly submitted legislative documents aimed at modernizing Curaçao’s administrative and legal structures. These include amendments to the General Transitional Regulation on Legislation and Governance, which seeks to update outdated laws still in place from the former Netherlands Antilles era.
Further adjustments are planned for the National Ordinance on Administrative Organization, intended to make the government’s internal structure more efficient and transparent.
Thursday’s meeting is expected to be a crucial step in advancing reforms that affect public finances, digital payment oversight, and the long-term modernization of Curaçao’s governance system.
