[ Home ] [ Folders Laborlegislation ]
  INFO DIRECTORATE
 

INTRODUCTION

Both the Central Government and the government of the island territories perform tasks in the area of labour (and social affairs).

DIRECTORATE OF LABOUR

On a central level the Directorate of Labour is in charge with the tasks in the area of labour. The Directorate of Labour has the following tasks:

  • Formulating policy memorandums and recommendations and making proposals for the development, adjustment, monitoring and implementation of a national policy concerning labour and the policy in the area of safety and labour inspection;
  • Preparing, implementing and monitoring the national legislation concerning labour and monitoring the compliance with this legislation;
  • Promoting international, social and labour affairs, such as the relationship with the International Labour Organization.

In this sense, the directorate’s work lies in the area of making policy and supporting this policy with qualitative and quantitative research. The directorate also gives the government advice about subjects pertaining to the labour law. The directorate interprets the labour legislation if necessary and works on the evaluation and modernization of the labour laws. On an international level this is in particular work with regard to the International Labour Organization (ILO), such as compiling reports for the ILO, representing the Netherlands Antilles on the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva and advising the government about ILO conventions.

THE EXECUTIVE SECTION

The executive section of the Directorate of Labour in Curaçao, St. Maarten and Bonaire monitors the compliance with the labour legislation and settles complaints resulting from the labour relations between employers and employees. Furthermore, the section intervenes in current, individual labour conflicts. Additionally, the section also takes requests to receive free legal assistance (see folder: free legal assistance). The section also implements stipulations of the National Ordinance Concerning the Termination of Labour Contracts whereby employers’ requests for the dismissal of employees are treated. For more information see the folders: employer and dismissal and employee and dismissal.

The national ordinances of which the section monitors the compliance are, a.o.:

  • The National Ordinance concerning Minimum Wages (see folder: minimum wages);
  • The Labour Legislation 2000 (see folders: flexibilization of the labour legislation/ the labour duration, lunch breaks, breaks and overtime/ payment of overtime/ holidays);
  • The Vacation Regulation 1949 (see folder: vacation and holidays);
  • The Civil Code (see folder: the labour contract).

ADRESSES OF THE DIRECTORATE OF LABOUR

Curaçao:
Schouwburgweg 22,
tel.: (09) 461-9999
fax.: (09) 461-5553
e-mail: info@diraz.an
website: www.diraz.an

Bonaire:
Kaya Korona 30,
tel.: (0717) 8941
fax.: (0717) 8144

St. Maarten:
Walter Nisbeth Road 57 (former SVB building)
tel.: (054) 37509 / 37510
fax.: (054) 24099

INSULAR LEVEL

On the insular level other departments are also entrusted with activities in the area of labour (and social affairs). The above-mentioned departments are a.o. entrusted with registration, control and other tasks in the area of the labour market including:

  • employment office (arranging contacts between job seekers and employers);
  • giving advice and information about the choice of career (including the issuance and control of work books) and company registration;
  • giving advice about job permits for foreign employees;
  • safety inspection;
  • labour supply policy and services;

Furthermore, different services are offered to persons with little or no income, such as:

  • paying social benefits;
  • distributing water and electricity subsidy;
  • distributing p.p.-cards for free medical care (for the poor);
  • covering expenses for placing elderly people and youngsters in resp. homes for the elderly and boarding schools and;
  • different other services in the area of social care.

The following departments work on the island level in:
Curaçao:  Dienst voor Arbeidszorg, Bellisimaweg 17,
tel.: (09) 737-1200
fax.: (09) 736-5711
e-mail: info.daz@curacao-gov.an

Dienst Werk en Inkomen/Ban Bario Bek;
the main office is in:
Mortiersweg 5, building Amerikaan Business Center
tel.: (09) 737-8513
fax.: (09) 737-7651
e-mail: info.dwi@curacao-gov.an

Bonaire:   the Dienst Economische Zaken en Arbeidsaangelegenheden,
Kaya Amsterdam 21,
tel. (0717) 5330
fax. (0717) 7309
e-mail: afddeza@bonairelive.com

Dienst Sociale Zaken,
Boulevard Julio A. Abraham 3,
tel. (0717) 5330
fax. (0717) 8841
e-mail: sasso@bonairelive.com

St. Maarten:   Department Zorg & Arbeid,
W.J.A. Nisbeth Rd 57,
tel. (054) 30170
fax. (054) 23569