The DAO office relocation Aruba controversy has intensified after employees of the Department of Labor and Research issued an open letter questioning the government’s decision to move staff from Paardenbaaistraat to Engelandstraat 33.
The employees argue that statements made by Labor Minister Wendrick Cicilia and Justice Minister Arthur Dowers regarding the situation appear contradictory and are calling for greater clarity about the condition of both buildings.
The Government of Aruba previously announced that DAO’s management, administration and labor-investigation sections would temporarily begin operating from the Departamento di Progreso Laboral building at Engelandstraat 33 on July 6, 2026.
Employees Question Reason for Relocation
In their open letter, DAO employees challenge the claim that an urgent situation required them to leave the Paardenbaaistraat location.
They allege that Minister Cicilia presented the relocation as an emergency measure while, according to their account, staff and union representatives were not adequately consulted.
The employees also claim they wrote to Prime Minister Mike Eman requesting intervention regarding their health and safety concerns but did not receive the response they were seeking.
These statements represent the employees’ account and have not been independently established by the information reviewed.
Conflicting Views Over Building Safety
The open letter says statements attributed to Minister Dowers and DIMAS suggested that assessments of the Paardenbaaistraat building did not identify health risks.
DAO employees argue that this conflicts with the justification they say was provided for their relocation.
They are therefore requesting publication or clarification of the technical reports used to support the government’s decision.
Concerns About Engelandstraat 33
The employees also raise a series of concerns about the temporary workplace at Engelandstraat 33.
Among the issues alleged in the letter are mold, high humidity, insufficient ventilation, limited access to opening windows and deficiencies in fire-safety systems.
The employees additionally raise concerns about the building’s proximity to an industrial ice facility and allege that the location does not meet applicable occupational-health requirements.
These are serious claims, but the open letter itself does not provide independent inspection reports establishing each alleged deficiency.
Public government information confirms that Engelandstraat 33 is being used by DAO as a temporary location and is also associated with other government-related services.
Workers Call for Transparency
DAO employees say they want a safe and healthy workplace and are asking the government to clarify why the relocation was considered necessary.
They argue that technical reports concerning both locations should be made transparent so employees and the public can understand the basis for the decision.
The DAO office relocation Aruba dispute therefore centers on workplace safety, government communication and whether the available technical evidence supports the relocation from Paardenbaaistraat to Engelandstraat 33.
Until the relevant inspection reports and official responses are made public, claims regarding health risks or legal non-compliance at either building should remain attributed to the parties making them.
