WILLEMSTAD - Employees of the Tax Department on Regentesselaan staged a work stoppage on Tuesday, citing concerns about unsafe working conditions and the controversial role of external consultants.
The protest was triggered by a fire department report circulating on social media that raised questions about the safety of the building. Staff reported four incidents in which ceiling panels collapsed — three in restrooms and one in a meeting room. No one was injured, but workers also pointed to mold growth and water leaks running down the walls, describing the workplace as deteriorating and unsafe.
Concerns Over Consultants
Employees also expressed frustration over the presence of two external consultants working within the department. One, a European-Dutch consultant reportedly hired under former Finance Minister Javier Silvania, allegedly has access to taxpayers’ personal data and has directly contacted citizens regarding their cases.
In one instance, employees said they were instructed to consult this same individual for information on a taxpayer’s file — even though he is not an official staff member.
A second consultant, who functions as a supervisor, is said to evaluate employees and decide who qualifies for compensation and benefits, a practice that has caused resentment among staff.
Workers are also dissatisfied with recent job reclassifications. Some employees were upgraded from pay scale 5 to 8, while others performing similar or more complex tasks were not promoted. Silvania had previously asked staff to wait for the implementation of the New Tax Service, during which all positions would be re-evaluated — but that reassurance has failed to calm tensions.
Union Mediation and Government Response
After meeting with the ABVO union, many workers resumed their duties later in the day. The union also held discussions with the acting department head, who is temporarily replacing Receiver of Taxes Alfonso Trona. ABVO noted that earlier communications to Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas about the fire department report had gone unanswered.
Finance Minister Charles Cooper confirmed that the Tax Department is operating normally today, saying that three of the four complaints raised by ABVO should be addressed internally by department management rather than at the ministerial level.
Cooper said he will discuss the concerns regarding the consultants during the Council of Ministers meeting next Thursday.
While affirming that workers have the right to strike, Cooper reiterated that the “No Work, No Pay” policy remains in effect for those who did not work on Tuesday.
The incident has reignited debate about workplace safety and governance within Curaçao’s public sector, as well as the outsourcing of sensitive government functions to external consultants.
