WILLEMSTAD – More than one-third of all working people in Curaçao earn minimum wage, underlining the fragile financial position of many employed residents.
According to recent labor market figures, 36.6 percent of workers are paid the legal minimum wage.
That wage rose slightly from 11.72 guilders per hour in 2025 to 11.93 guilders per hour in 2026, translating into roughly 2,030 guilders gross per month for a full-time worker.
However, after deductions, take-home pay is significantly lower, leaving many workers struggling to cover rent, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare.
Figures also show that between 60 and 65 percent of adults on the island have a gross monthly income of no more than 3,000 guilders, including those without any income.
This means a majority of the working population remains financially vulnerable, particularly those in temporary jobs, part-time work, or tourism-related service positions.
Economists warn that economic growth alone is not solving structural wage inequality.