Kralendijk- A new Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) for Central Government workers on the BES-islands will go into effect now that three unions (ABVO, ACOM and WICSU-PSU) indicated that their members agreed with the negotiation result which has been reached between RCN and the unions.

The NAPB, represented the Police, however requested postponement because they were unable to consult enough members. According to the chairman of the NAPB, he could not agree based on the reactions received so far.

ABVO, ACOM and WICSU-PSU and the employer point out that the signing is in the interest of all employees (early payment of a salary increase) and the progress of the decentralized consultation (with public entities, education, etc.). Although the NAPB stepped out of the consultation, the three trade unions and the employer signed a legally valid agreement for all employees (including NAPB members).

Despite the employer’s insistence, the NAPB decided not to further take part in the consultations. The three trade unions and the employer regret the withdrawal of the NAPB, because there are other important topics on the agenda that are also important for NAPB members.

With this terms of employment agreement a salary increase for all civil servants will take place; 2% in 2018 and 1.75% in 2019.

In addition, a long-cherished wish of the unions to introduce a thirteenth month has been realized step by step. With this agreement all civil servants will receive a percentage end-of-year bonus of 5% in 2018, 2019 in 6% and 7% in 2020 instead of the current nominal end-of-year bonus of USD 1250. In addition, the minimum amount compared with the current year-end bonus has increased to USD 1500, so that all civil servants in the Caribbean Netherlands have benefitted. The CLA has been negotiated for three years and runs from January 1st until December 31st, 2018 – 2020.

In June 2018, conversations will be held with the State Secretary of the Interior and Kingdom Relations about personnel policies and a possible reduction in working hours.

According to RCN, with these measures all civil servants in the Caribbean Netherlands will also benefit from the economic development in European Netherlands.