Curaçao civil servants now entitled to full day off on their birthday

WILLEMSTAD--Civil servants employed by the Government of Curaçao are now entitled to a full day off on their birthday, following a decision by the Council of Ministers to expand the previous half-day arrangement.

The Council of Ministers approved the measure on September 23, 2026, and the new policy officially took effect on October 1.

Minister Shalten Hato of BPD said the change is intended as a gesture of appreciation for the commitment and contribution of Government personnel.

Under the new arrangement, the birthday leave must normally be taken on the employee’s actual birthday and cannot be saved, accumulated or carried over to another period.

Only when the needs of the public service make it impossible for an employee to take the day off on his or her birthday may another day be selected. In such cases, the alternative day must be agreed upon with the employee’s supervisor and taken within the same workweek.

The new policy replaces the previous arrangement under which civil servants were entitled to a half-day off on their birthday.

Civil servants’ union ABVO has welcomed the decision, saying the new arrangement should bring an end to uncertainty and differing interpretations among Government ministries over how birthday leave is applied.

According to the union, the previous system was not always handled in the same manner across Government, resulting in differences in how employees were able to make use of the benefit.

ABVO also encouraged employers in the private sector to consider introducing a similar arrangement for their employees.

The union said a full birthday leave day can be seen as a relatively simple way for employers to recognize workers and contribute to employee appreciation and well-being.

The measure has been in effect for Curaçao Government personnel since October 1, 2026.

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