WILLEMSTAD – Medical specialists working at government-affiliated hospitals on Curaçao will now be allowed to earn up to 110 percent of the maximum salary limit established under Curaçao’s National Ordinance on the Standardization of Top Incomes (LNT).
The measure is included in a ministerial decree dated May 21, 2026 and signed by acting Minister of Health Gilmar Pisas and Minister of Finance Charles Cooper.
With the decision, the government is officially deviating from the existing LNT salary ceiling that applies to executives and senior officials at government-linked institutions.
According to the decree, the adjustment is necessary because of “special labor market conditions” and ongoing shortages of medical specialists on the island.
The government stated that Curaçao faces increasing difficulty attracting and retaining qualified specialists. Authorities argue that the current salary limits weaken Curaçao’s competitive position compared with the Netherlands and other countries in the region.
Reducing waiting times and hospital waiting lists was also cited as a key reason behind the measure.
Under existing legislation, exceptions can be granted allowing salaries of up to 130 percent of the normal LNT ceiling in exceptional circumstances. However, the government opted for a lower limit of 110 percent, describing it as a “proportional and defensible application” of the exception mechanism.
The increase applies to doctors officially recognized and registered as medical specialists who work at government-affiliated hospital facilities and fall under the legal definition of top officials.