WILLEMSTAD - Negotiations on a new salary structure for civil servants have come to a halt once more after unions were again denied access on Tuesday to the documents underlying Deloitte’s proposal.

The advisory firm presented an initial outline of a new pay system on 25 August, suggesting significant adjustments for the highest-ranking positions in order to attract more specialized personnel. Deloitte also proposed formally introducing salary scale 18, even though that scale currently has no legal basis.

Government Admits It Doesn’t Have the Documents

Unions insist on reviewing the underlying analyses and reports before assessing Deloitte’s recommendations. However, the government argues that the documents are confidential because they are tied to the Landspakket reform program. On Tuesday it also became clear that the government representatives themselves do not have the documents in their possession.

The situation raises further questions, as the government and unions agreed back in 2014 on the creation of an “open” pay structure — salary ranges per scale instead of automatic step increases. Deloitte’s presentation, however, still relies on the existing step-based model.

Unions Expect Answers by Friday

The government has now turned to the Council of Ministers to determine whether the documents can be released after all. The unions hope to receive them by Friday. Until then, negotiations remain frozen.

The continued lack of transparency is fueling frustration within the union movement and delaying reforms that both sides agree are long overdue.