Minister Wendrick Cicilia Working on Introducing Youth Minimum Wage in Aruba

Aruba’s Minister of Labor, Mr. Wendrick Cicilia, has announced progress toward the introduction of a youth minimum wage (jeugdminimumloon), expected to take effect on January 1, 2026. This marks a significant milestone in ensuring fair labor protection and economic inclusion for young workers.

The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to improving labor laws and promoting equal opportunities in the job market. Minister Cicilia emphasized that the youth minimum wage proposal has received broad support from the Parliament of Aruba, following a motion passed on September 2, 2025, during discussions on the hourly minimum wage law.

Once implemented, the new system will align Aruba with other Dutch Kingdom territories such as Curaçao, Bonaire, and Sint Maarten, all of which already have youth minimum wage regulations in place. Currently, Aruba is the only island within the Kingdom that has not yet established this standard.

The youth minimum wage will be introduced through a government decree (Landsbesluit), which will specify the age range (15 to 17 years) and the percentage of the adult minimum wage applicable to young workers — expected to be no less than 70%. The measure will comply with international labor norms, including ILO Convention 131, ensuring fair wages and continued access to education for Aruba’s youth.

According to research conducted by the Department of Labor in 2022, public and institutional responses to the proposal were highly positive. The findings highlighted key benefits such as:

• Increasing youth participation in the labor market;
• Promoting fair compensation for young workers;
• Encouraging continued education and skill development.

Minister Cicilia confirmed that the Council of Ministers has prioritized this initiative and requested a formal advisory opinion from the Social and Economic Council (SER). Once the council’s recommendation is received, the drafting of the decree will begin.

“This reform is not only about harmonizing our laws with the Kingdom and international standards,” said Minister Cicilia, “but also about ensuring fair treatment, motivation, and opportunity for our young people. Aruba cannot stay behind.

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