Improvement in people’s sense of socio-economic security

In 2022, the Dutch government raised the statutory minimum wage and benefits including the state pension (AOW), widows/widowers and orphans allowance (AWW) and income support in the Caribbean Netherlands by 10 percent. This increase included an adjustment for inflation, supplemented by an additional increase for each island determined by government policy. For Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, inflation stood at 4.3, 2.4 and 3.2 percent, respectively (Q3 2021). On top of that there was an additional policy-based increase of 5.7 percent for Bonaire, 7.6 percent for St Eustatius and 6.8 percent for Saba.

Child benefit was equalised to 89 dollars per child per month for all three islands, with effect from 1 January 2022. This was increased to 99 dollars per child per month with effect from 1 July 2022.

Furthermore, and in line with the scheme introduced in the European Netherlands, the government introduced a one-off energy allowance to support low-income households in the Caribbean Netherlands. Households with an income of up to 130 percent of the social minimum benchmark were entitled to an allowance of 1,300 dollars. Households on income support received the energy allowance automatically. Other households needed to apply for the energy allowance and did not receive any payment until 2023.