WILLEMSTAD - Young people aged eighteen should earn the same minimum wage as adults. This position was defended by Giselle Mc William of the MAN faction this week in a meeting of the Central Committee of the Parliament of Curaçao. She emphasized that the current wage disparity between young people and adults is discriminatory and needs to be adjusted.
Mc William explained that the social situation and high cost of living do not differentiate based on age. Young people under 20 face the same financial challenges as adults. Therefore, MAN advocates for a legislative amendment to guarantee young people an equal minimum wage, based on the principles of human dignity, a core value of the party.
Under the current legislation, 18-year-olds earn only 75 percent of the minimum wage, 19-year-olds 85 percent, and 20-year-olds 90 percent. Mc William considers this regulation outdated. "At 18, young people are no longer subject to compulsory education, they can obtain a driver's license, vote, run for office, and marry. They are legally considered adults, so why should they earn less?" Mc William questions.
The basis for the proposed law, according to Mc William, lies in the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which supports equal pay for equal value, regardless of age, gender, disability, or religion.
Technical Briefings
Most parliamentary factions are pleased with the initiative of the MAN faction but want further clarification from employers' and employees' organizations. Their proposal is to initiate so-called technical briefings on the bill.
Interestingly, according to Steven Martina of MAN, the draft has already been positively assessed by the Social and Economic Council, which includes representatives of both employers' and employees' organizations. Nevertheless, the Parliament, upon the proposal of MFK Member David Seferina, agreed to hold technical briefings.