Internet consultation: Minimum wage for 15-year-olds on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
The Law Minimum Wages BES (Wet minimumlonen BES) is being amended to ensure that young people aged 15 and over on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba receive a minimum wage. Anyone can respond to this change with questions or comments until 14 January via:
As yet no minimum wage exists on the islands for 15-year-olds, despite that already being the case in the European Netherlands. The government believes it is important that all employees of any age receive protection in the form of a minimum wage. That is why the government is proposing the introduction of a minimum wage for 15-year-olds on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
The minimum youth wage is determined per age category using a percentage of the minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over, as detailed in the table below. The government wants to introduce a minimum wage percentage of 55% for 15-year-olds on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This percentage aligns with the existing percentages for workers aged between 16 and 21, with young people earning more as they get older.
Once the percentage for 15-year-olds has been introduced, the following percentages will be used to derive the minimum youth wage from the minimum wage as from 2027:
- 21 years old and over 100%
- 20 years old 90%
- 19 years old 85%
- 18 years old 75%
- 17 years old 65%
- 16 years old 65%
- 15 years old 55%