Mercelina: Govt pursuing multi-annual agreement for increased civil servant salaries, and 36-Hour Workweek

GREAT BAY--Government intends to continue consultations with the unions represented in the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU) toward a new multi-annual agreement aimed at increasing civil servant salaries and improving basic employment conditions, Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Dr. Luc Mercelina announced during the 2026 Budget meeting on Thursday.

Areas under consideration include the introduction of a 36-hour workweek, additional paternity leave and greater recognition of the risks faced by frontline workers. Mercelina stressed, however, that any agreement will have to be pursued responsibly and with due consideration for the country’s financial limitations.

The Prime Minister placed improving the position of civil servants within a broader effort to strengthen Government’s institutional capacity, arguing that a professional, motivated and adequately supported public service is essential if Government is to deliver effectively for the population.

“Our civil servants are working under tremendous pressure to keep Government functioning,” Mercelina said. “A professional, motivated and properly supported civil service is not a luxury, it is a prerequisite for effective Government. Without well-trained, fairly compensated and properly equipped public servants, no Government can function effectively.”

Presenting the Ministry of General Affairs’ priorities under the draft 2026 National Budget, Mercelina outlined what he described as a realistic approach focused on restoring institutional stability, strengthening the civil service, improving Government’s ability to execute policy and reinforcing disaster preparedness.

He also acknowledged the delayed handling of the 2026 Budget, saying it reflected broader institutional challenges that must be addressed rather than ignored.

“This is not a message of pessimism. It is a call to realism and a call to action,” Mercelina said.

“After 16 years as a country, it is time to establish and firmly anchor the foundation of Government. We must get the foundation in order, and that is precisely what this administration is focused on.”

The Ministry of General Affairs’ budget, excluding financing provided through the Temporary Work Organisation (TWO), increases from approximately Cg. 79.5 million in 2025 to Cg. 82.3 million in 2026, an increase of 3.4 percent.

According to the Prime Minister, much of that increase is being absorbed by mandatory expenditures, including salary indexation, higher operational costs and outstanding obligations accumulated over previous years.

At the same time, the Ministry continues to face substantial personnel shortages. Mercelina said approximately 455 positions are considered necessary for the Ministry to fully carry out its legal and operational responsibilities, while only 271 positions are budgeted and approximately 255 are currently filled.

“The personnel gap is not merely a number on paper. It directly affects policymaking, implementation, legislative drafting, recruitment, digital services and the Government’s ability to respond effectively to the needs of the public,” Mercelina said.

He said Government is therefore attempting to rebuild capacity gradually through recruitment, stronger management and efforts to address longstanding financial and administrative backlogs.

Mercelina identified strengthening Government capacity and its core support services as one of the Ministry’s main priorities, with particular attention to Personnel and Organisation, Legal Affairs, ICT and facility management.

A second area of focus will be national development and stronger partnerships within the Kingdom, throughout the Caribbean and internationally. The third priority is strengthening disaster management and crisis-response capacity, including further development of the Fire Department.

Government also intends to modernize its human-resource administration through the introduction of the E-HRM platform, replacing fragmented and paper-based procedures with a single system for managing personnel information.

The Prime Minister said strengthening the civil service cannot be separated from improving the systems within which public servants are expected to work.

He also reaffirmed Government’s intention to strengthen the Office of Disaster Management and the Fire Department through additional staffing, improved emergency equipment and stronger crisis-coordination mechanisms.

“Building resilience is not only about responding when a crisis occurs. It is about preparing for it in a structured and sustained manner,” Mercelina said. “St. Maarten needs a Fire Department that is well-trained, well-paid and properly equipped to respond to any emergency our country may face.”

Mercelina further stressed that strengthening Government will require greater cooperation across ministries, between Government and Parliament, and with partners within the Kingdom and internationally.

Preparations are underway for a Kingdom Summit later this year, which is intended to promote more structured dialogue among the four countries of the Kingdom.

Technical discussions are also continuing with the Netherlands concerning the possible continuation of support under the Country Package beyond its current closing date of April 2027. Mercelina said that support remains important to Government’s longer-term institutional reform objectives.

“The strengthening of Government is not a short-term undertaking, and it will not be completed within a single budget year or administration,” Mercelina concluded.

“It requires continuity, discipline and cooperation. Step by step, we must build a stronger foundation for Country St. Maarten. Step by step, we must strengthen our institutions. Step by step, we must deliver for the people of St. Maarten.”

Government said it remains committed to working with Parliament, civil servants, unions and its partners to build a more professional, responsive and people-centered public administration.

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