WILLEMSTAD – Opposition party MAN says Curaçao’s monthly AOV old-age pension should already have reached XCG 1,050 instead of XCG 1,000, arguing that the legally required indexation has not been properly applied since 2021.
The party accuses the Pisas government of failing to fully implement the indexation to which pensioners are entitled under the law.
According to MAN, the government has pointed to limitations at the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), which reportedly cannot calculate the required economic growth figures for the August-to-August period needed for the indexation.
MAN considers that explanation insufficient. The party argues that the government has other institutions at its disposal that could assist with the necessary calculations, including the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance.
The opposition party maintains that if the legally prescribed methodology creates a practical problem, the government has a responsibility to find a solution rather than allow pensioners to miss adjustments to which they may be entitled.
MAN-PIN also argues that the increase of the AOV pension to XCG 1,000 should not be presented as a concession or achievement of the government. According to the party, pensioners have a legal right to indexation and the increases should therefore be viewed in that context.
The party further claims that Curaçao Parliament has not yet received legislation formally establishing the AOV increase to XCG 1,000. It therefore disputes any attempt to present the higher amount as an accomplishment of the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare.
According to MAN, the cumulative effect of indexation that has not been properly implemented since 2021 means the monthly AOV should now stand at approximately XCG 1,050.
The opposition party says it will continue pressing the government for further increases in pension income. MAN-PIN also referred to its previously stated objective of eventually raising the AOV to XCG 1,500 per month.
The dispute is likely to keep pension income on the political agenda as Curaçao continues debating how to improve the purchasing power of elderly residents while addressing the long-term financial sustainability of its social insurance system.