ORANJESTAD, Aruba – TOPA Sets Labor Office Deadline as the union gives the Government of Aruba until August 5, 2026, to respond to concerns about the health and safety conditions facing employees of the Department of Labor (DAO) at their new workplace.
Vilma Thijsen, a representative of the TOPA union, said the concerns are not new. According to Thijsen, the organization has warned several government ministers since 2019 about unsuitable working conditions affecting Department of Labor employees.
The workers previously occupied a building that reportedly had serious mould problems. They have since moved to another facility that TOPA claims is in an even worse condition. The union has informed the current minister that it does not consider the new location suitable for employees from either a health or workplace safety perspective.
One of TOPA’s primary concerns is that the building is located within the same complex as an ice factory where ammonia and other chemicals are reportedly used. The union believes this could create an additional risk for employees in the event of a fire, chemical leak, or other emergency.
TOPA also raised concerns about the building having only one emergency exit. The union considers that arrangement inadequate for the number of employees expected to work inside the facility and has requested that the situation be reviewed.
Employees have reportedly documented several maintenance problems throughout the building. These include persistent moisture, mould inside offices, chairs developing mould after remaining unused for several days, leaks in the ceiling, and fire extinguishers that may not have been properly updated or inspected. TOPA said photographs were taken to document the reported conditions.
The union also cited concerns about cockroaches and other pests. According to Thijsen, the building was apparently not fumigated before employees were moved into it. She questioned how a government department could be relocated without adequate inspections first being conducted to confirm that the facility was safe and suitable.
Last week, TOPA met with ministerial adviser Mr. Duineveld to present its evidence and explain the concerns raised by employees. The minister was also invited to visit the building personally and inspect the reported conditions.
TOPA said it had previously been told that the Department of Labor Progress (DPL) occupied the building for seven years without filing formal complaints. Thijsen argued, however, that some former employees may have remained silent because they feared possible consequences, describing the situation as a potential “culture of fear.”
TOPA Sets Labor Office Deadline for August 5 and expects the government to provide a meaningful response before that date. The union warned that it will consider taking further action if no satisfactory solution is presented.
Employees have also reportedly written to the Aruba Fire Department, DTI, and the Ombudsman seeking intervention. TOPA said it will continue supporting the workers and emphasized that protecting employee health and safety must be treated as a priority.
