ORANJESTAD (AAN) – SEPPA Warns of Staffing Shortages in Aruba’s Public Sector, with Secretary General Magaly Brito highlighting workforce shortages, salary concerns, and political issues that she says are placing increasing pressure on government services.
Speaking in an interview, Brito explained that many of SEPPA’s concerns are matters that must be addressed directly with the government as the employer rather than through broader social dialogue. She said staffing shortages across multiple government departments and essential public services have created significant pressure on employees, contributing to high levels of absenteeism and affecting the quality of services provided to the public.
Brito also pointed to the rising cost of living as a major challenge for public sector workers. According to her, government employees have fallen behind financially because public sector salaries are no longer competitive with those offered by private employers. She said this salary gap has made it increasingly difficult to attract young professionals to careers in the public service.
Another issue raised by Brito is what she described as growing skepticism caused by the politicization of the public sector. She said many people are discouraged from pursuing government employment because they believe political influence affects opportunities and career development, causing important reforms to stagnate.
The SEPPA Secretary General added that long-delayed departmental reorganizations have reduced employee motivation, while changes to pension arrangements have also affected the attractiveness of government careers. She noted that whereas public sector pensions were once considered a major incentive, the retirement age has increased to 65, while some private employers now offer more attractive pension benefits and higher contribution rates.
Brito said these issues should be addressed through discussions with the government to strengthen the public workforce and ensure that essential services continue to meet the needs of Aruba’s residents.
