WILLEMSTAD – MAN-PIN has officially submitted an initiative bill to the Curaçao Parliament seeking the introduction of paid paternity leave on Curaçao.
The opposition party formally presented the proposal on Monday for parliamentary consideration.
If approved, the legislation would grant fathers a legal right to paid leave following the birth of a child — a protection that currently does not formally exist under Curaçao law.
MAN-PIN faction presenting the bill proposal to the Parliament Clerk.
As a result, many fathers are presently forced to use vacation days or return to work almost immediately after the birth of their child.
According to MAN-PIN, the initiative law represents an important social reform in the areas of labor rights and family policy.
The proposed system would link the duration of paternity leave to the number of hours an employee works per week.
The party stated that the proposal was designed while taking into account the financial capacity of Curaçao’s social security system and labor market.
MAN-PIN argues that paid paternity leave contributes to stronger family structures, greater equality between men and women, and improved child development during the earliest stages of life.
The party is now urging Parliament to treat the proposal seriously and move forward with discussions and consideration in the short term.
The proposal places Curaçao within a broader international discussion about expanding parental leave protections and improving work-life balance policies for families.