WILLEMSTAD – Employees at the Ministry of Economic Development (EO) appear to be relatively familiar with government integrity policies, but far fewer believe those policies are actively applied in daily practice.
That conclusion emerges from the government's 2026 Integrity Baseline Scan, which assessed awareness, implementation, leadership, reporting culture and workplace behavior across ministries. According to the report, 64 percent of respondents within EO indicated they are familiar with the integrity policy and code of conduct. However, only 31 percent believe those policies are actively applied and discussed in everyday operations.
The ministry's overall scorecard reflects the same pattern. Knowledge and understanding of integrity rules scored 53 percent, while actual consistency in applying those rules scored only 31 percent. The ministry's speak-up culture scored 34 percent.
Researchers found that employees were generally aware of rules regarding gifts and secondary employment, but knowledge of other important safeguards was much weaker. Only one-third of respondents knew about the confidential advisor system, while just 21 percent indicated that the oath or pledge required of civil servants is actually administered.
The report also points to concerns regarding reporting mechanisms. Nearly half of respondents indicated that reports of integrity concerns are rarely or never followed up with feedback. At the same time, many employees expressed a strong desire for a formal reporting channel.
The findings suggest that the ministry's greatest challenge may not be creating new rules but ensuring existing integrity policies become visible in daily management practices and workplace discussions.