According to Diego de Cuba, leader of the Aruban Workers’ Union (STA), the company Thiel Corporation has been withholding its employees’ pension contributions for almost four years without transferring the payments as required by law. De Cuba stated in an interview with DIARIO that this practice is completely illegal.
He explained that the LAP pension law, which came into force in 2012, clearly outlines that any company failing to comply may face penalties of up to 250,000 florins.
De Cuba shared that STA consulted with the Government Mediator and engaged with the relevant parties. Thiel Corporation reportedly sent a letter outlining how it planned to pay the outstanding pension amounts, but STA has yet to receive a copy of that letter—something the union considers unacceptable. This lack of transparency is one of the reasons STA plans to approach WAB (Werkgevers Arubaanse Bouwnijverheid), as the situation also violates agreements under the Collective Labor Contract, in addition to breaking the LAP law.
The STA leader stressed that company director Anthony Thiel must come to the table and clearly explain why the company failed to fulfill its pension obligations. “Banks don’t care where your money comes from—if you have a commitment with the bank, you must meet it,” de Cuba said, pointing out the serious financial consequences workers may face.
Legal action is possible, but STA hopes the matter can be resolved before it reaches that stage. “If Thiel agrees with the solution we intend to present, I believe we can avoid going to court,” de Cuba noted.
This is not the first time STA has needed to intervene. The same issue surfaced in 2023, and again now at the end of 2025. De Cuba emphasized that it is time for Anthony Thiel to become more responsible, transparent, and honest with employees, rather than hiding information or violating labor laws, collective agreements, and pension legislation. “These practices cannot continue,” he concluded.
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