WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government does not have a complete overview of foreign workers entering the island since parts of the labor moratorium were relaxed, according to answers provided by Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Charetti America-Francisca to questions from PNP Member of Parliament Sheldry Osepa.
According to the minister, approximately 1,540 first-time applications for work permits were submitted in 2025 by employers seeking permission to hire foreign workers on Curaçao.
However, the minister acknowledged that the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) does not automatically maintain detailed statistical data on labor migrants entering the island.
As a result, the ministry cannot directly provide an overview of workers’ countries of origin, gender distribution or the professions for which work permits were requested.
America-Francisca explained that such information is contained within individual case files, but the ministry’s current registration system does not allow those details to be automatically extracted into statistical summaries or reports.
According to the minister, obtaining that information would require a manual review of all individual files, something SOAW currently lacks sufficient personnel capacity to perform.
The ministry also does not maintain data regarding the living conditions of foreign workers.
SOAW reportedly does not track where labor migrants live, whether they arrive with family members or partners, or how their housing arrangements are organized.
The minister stated that those responsibilities fall primarily under the Ministry of Justice and Curaçao’s immigration and admissions authorities.
The answers come amid ongoing political debate surrounding the easing of portions of Curaçao’s labor moratorium policy.
Osepa previously warned about potential social consequences linked to labor migration, including pressure on housing availability, integration challenges and strain on social services.
In her response, America-Francisca emphasized that SOAW’s primary responsibilities focus on processing work permits, monitoring labor conditions and protecting workers against labor exploitation.