WILLEMSTAD – Trade union Horecaf is calling for a major change in working conditions for its members, proposing a four-day workweek with no salary reduction, particularly for employees in Curaçao’s casino sector.
The proposal was formally approved during the union’s recent 31st General Assembly of Delegates, held on March 25 at the Sede Sindikal Frits S. Brito in Brievengat.
Following that decision, Horecaf has officially informed employers and casino management, requesting the implementation of a new 4-3 work schedule: four working days followed by three days off.
The union says the proposed model would replace the current roster system, which typically consists of six working days and two days off.
According to Horecaf, the new schedule would create a more balanced and efficient system that better reflects modern labor standards and employee well-being.
The union argues that shorter workweeks can improve productivity, reduce burnout and contribute to a healthier work-life balance without affecting employee income.
The demand is particularly significant for casino workers, who often operate in shift-based environments with long and irregular working hours.
Horecaf says the move is inspired by labor trends in Europe, where sectors in countries such as Netherlands and other European nations have been experimenting with reduced workweeks while maintaining full salaries.
In those models, employers have reported mixed but often positive results, including improved staff satisfaction and better employee retention.
However, the proposal comes at a complicated moment for Curaçao’s hospitality and gaming sectors.
Many local hospitality businesses continue to face structural shortages of qualified workers, a challenge that has become increasingly visible as tourism numbers continue to rise.
Industry leaders have repeatedly warned that labor shortages are already putting pressure on service quality and operational capacity.
Critics may argue that reducing working days without reducing pay could create staffing challenges, especially in labor-intensive sectors such as casinos and hospitality.
Still, Horecaf believes the four-day model could make the sector more attractive to workers and help address retention problems in the long term.
The union has not proposed an intermediate step, such as a five-day workweek.
Instead, it is directly requesting a transition from the existing six-day system to the new four-day structure.
Employers have yet to publicly respond to the proposal.
If adopted, the change would mark one of the most significant labor model shifts in Curaçao’s hospitality and gaming industry in recent years and could influence broader discussions about modernizing work conditions across other sectors.