Aruba’s Minister of Labor, Wendrick Cicilia, together with the Department of Labor and Research (DAO), has announced the introduction of a mandatory hourly minimum wage, effective January 1, 2026. The measure aims to eliminate wage disparities between employees who work a standard 40-hour week and those who work more or fewer hours.
Starting January 1, 2026, all employees aged 18 and older who earn the minimum wage must receive at least the legal hourly minimum wage, regardless of the number of hours worked per day, week, or month. The new minimum hourly wage is set at Afl. 11.58.
Key Changes Effective January 1, 2026
- Introduction of a uniform hourly minimum wage of Afl. 11.58 for all employees aged 18 and over, regardless of job function or weekly working hours.
- Adjustment of the monthly salary calculation factor to 4.333.
- As a result, an employee working 40 hours per week will see the monthly minimum wage increase from Afl. 1,986.20 to Afl. 2,007.50.
Who Is Affected
To determine whether an employee falls under the new law, employers must first calculate the employee’s hourly wage. If the hourly rate is below Afl. 11.58, the salary must be adjusted as of January 1, 2026.
Employees who already earn more than Afl. 11.58 per hour are not affected by the new regulation. Employees with a current monthly salary of Afl. 2,257.93 or higher should use the official calculation formulas to determine whether the law applies to them.
How to Calculate the Minimum Wage
- Weekly wage:
Number of hours worked per week × Afl. 11.58 - Monthly wage:
Number of hours worked per week × Afl. 11.58 × 4.333
Additional Information and Tools
To support employers and employees, DAO has made several resources available:
- SUELDO App (Hourly Wage Calculator):
www.bit.ly/appsueldo - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents in multiple languages, including one specifically for domestic workers, available at:
www.daoaruba.com - Email: dao.uurloon@gmail.com
- WhatsApp (questions only): 593-6934
- Telephone: 523-7720
- In-person assistance: DAO office, Paardenbaaistraat 11, Monday–Friday
(7:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–3:00 PM)
According to the Ministry of Labor, the introduction of an hourly minimum wage represents an important step toward fairer compensation, transparency, and equal treatment for all workers in Aruba’s labor market.
Photo Credits : https://diario.aw/categories/noticia/general/e-motibo-pakico-ta-importante-pa-introduci-un-salario-minimo-pa-ora
