News item | 06-12-2024 | 17:37
The government wants to further strengthen the social security of the residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba in the coming years. This is what State Secretary Jurgen Nobel of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and State Secretary Zsolt Szabó of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) write in response to the report of the ‘Committee on Social Minimum Caribbean Netherlands’.
State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (SZW): “Rising prices have not made daily life easier for many islanders in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom. Many people struggle to make ends meet. In addition to working on purchasing power and reducing costs, we also want to bring the social security system for the islands more in line with the European Netherlands. For example, by introducing maternity leave, short-term care leave and unemployment benefits.”
State Secretary Zsolt Szabó: “Security is not just about income and the cost of living. It is also about self-reliance and good access to appropriate support, education and care. This government also invests in projects that give an extra boost to the economic development of the islands, such as in the port of Saba, food security and road construction.”
After the increase in the minimum wage earlier this year, the government is committed to structurally reducing the costs of living on the islands. Investments are being made in, among other things, sustainable energy, the introduction of public transport and the construction of affordable housing. The further development of the social security system and working towards income-related schemes are necessary steps for an integrated approach to improving social security.
Poverty and debt
The government previously announced that it would reserve €9.5 million to improve purchasing power on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Concrete purchasing power measures will be further developed in the spring. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba have taken the initiative for the development of local poverty programs. The government supports this with capacity and financial resources.
€2 million has been structurally made available for (island) services in the field of poverty and debt. Just as in the European Netherlands, resources have been made available in the Caribbean Netherlands in recent years for the provision of free school meals. The government has decided to continue funding for school meals in both the European and Caribbean Netherlands.