WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has described the government’s approval of a 110 percent LNT compensation scheme for medical specialists as a positive first step toward achieving market-based salaries for healthcare professionals.
In a statement, the hospital said the original proposal submitted to the government called for compensation at 130 percent of the ceiling established under the National Ordinance on Top Incomes (LNT). However, the government ultimately approved a level of 110 percent.
According to CMC, further discussions between the involved parties will therefore still be necessary.
The hospital emphasized that the broader issue extends beyond the salaries of medical specialists alone. CMC stated that renewing the collective labor agreement for hospital personnel is also important, noting that the agreement has not been updated in more than ten years.
The hospital’s management said improved employment conditions are necessary to retain existing staff, attract new employees, and guarantee continuity of healthcare services on the island.
CMC’s position aligns with earlier statements made by the Landelijke Vereniging Medische Professionals in Dienstverband Curaçao (LVMPiDC), which previously argued that better compensation and working conditions are needed to strengthen healthcare capacity and reduce pressure on the medical system.
According to the statement, CMC will continue consultations with the LVMPiDC and the relevant ministries regarding the implementation of the approved compensation adjustments and broader labor conditions within the healthcare sector.