New unemployment safety net for Caribbean Netherlands starts January 2027

KRALENDIJK – Employees in the Caribbean Netherlands who become unemployed through no fault of their own will be entitled to a temporary unemployment benefit from 1 January 2027. The Temporary Unemployment Provision Scheme BES was published in the Government Gazette on Wednesday and has thereby been officially established.

The scheme runs from 1 January 2027 through 31 December 2031. During this period, the central government will work on a permanent statutory unemployment provision for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Until that is in place, the temporary scheme provides a safety net for employees who lose their jobs.

75 percent of monthly wages

The benefit amounts to 75 percent of the monthly wage and lasts a maximum of three months. The monthly wage is determined based on the average wage over the six calendar months preceding the period of unemployment.

Until now, the Caribbean Netherlands had no general unemployment scheme. Those who lost their jobs fell back on social assistance — or nothing at all. With this scheme, the BES islands gain a safety net against unemployment for the first time.

Compared to the Unemployment Insurance Act in European Netherlands, the scheme is considerably more modest. The Dutch WW benefit also starts at 75 percent of wages, but depending on employment history can continue for up to 24 months, whereas the BES scheme stops after three months. Furthermore, the Dutch WW is an insurance for which premiums are paid; the BES scheme is a provision funded directly by the central government.

Information campaign in the autumn

In the run-up to the scheme’s entry into force, the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands – SZW unit will launch an information campaign in the autumn. Employers and employees will then be informed about the conditions of the scheme and how to apply for a benefit.

The draft scheme was put out for public consultation in February 2026. Employee and employer organisations, the Central Dialogue and the public bodies were able to respond. Those responses have been taken into account in the final version. The full text of the scheme can be found in the Government Gazette.