WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare, Charetti America-Francisca, has ordered an investigation into reports that employees in stores and other commercial businesses are being forced to stand for long periods during their work shifts without the possibility of sitting down.
The investigation follows parliamentary questions submitted by Gilbert Doran regarding working conditions in supermarkets, drugstores, perfume shops, and other retail businesses on the island.
According to the minister, the Labor Department has not yet received formal complaints from workers alleging that they are required to stand continuously for eight hours or more. However, America-Francisca acknowledged that employees may be reluctant to file complaints out of fear of retaliation from employers.
Following reports in the media, the minister has instructed the labor inspectorate to carry out inspections and further investigations into the alleged practices. She is also requesting concrete names of companies where such situations may be occurring in order to conduct more targeted inspections.
Doran had asked the minister whether the situation could amount to what he described as “modern slavery.” Although America-Francisca declined to use that specific term, she stated that forcing employees to work under such conditions could indicate a lack of empathy and respect toward workers.
The minister emphasized that there is currently insufficient data to determine the full scale of the problem. As a result, the ministry plans to launch broader and independent studies into working conditions within the retail sector.
In addition, the government intends to improve awareness among employees regarding labor rights and the procedures available for filing complaints about workplace conditions.