Leave regulations Caribbean Netherlands expanded as of 1 January 2026
As of 1 January 2026, the leave regulations in the Caribbean Netherlands will be expanded with emergency leave and short-term care leave. This means employees will gain new rights, while employers will face new obligations and practical changes.
Emergency Leave
Emergency leave can be requested when you need to take time off to resolve an urgent, unexpected personal matter. The duration of the leave depends on the situation. Salary continues to be paid during this leave.
Short-Term Care Leave
Short-term care leave can be used if someone in your immediate environment is sick and requires care, and you are the only person who can provide this care under the circumstances. During short-term care leave, the employer is not obligated to continue paying your salary.
Free Information Sessions
To properly prepare employees, employers, and administrative offices for the upcoming changes, the RCN Unit SZW will soon organize free information sessions. During these sessions, you will learn:
- Which new types of leave will take effect as of 1 January 2026.
- What this means for employees, employers and HR processes.
The sessions will take place on Bonaire from 27 to 30 October:
Location: Divi Flamingo
Employers
| 27 October | 14:00-15:00 | Papiamentu |
| 15:15-16:15 | Spanish | |
| 29 October | 14:00-15:00 | Dutch |
| 15:15-16:15 | English |
Employees
| 28 October | 17:00-18:00 | Papiamentu |
| 18:15-19:15 | Spanish | |
| 30 October | 17:00-18:00 | Dutch |
| 18:15-19:15 | English |
Registration
To register for one of the information sessions, you can send an email to LD.szw@RijksdienstCN.com or a WhatsApp message to +599 795 4537.
When registering, please include your organization, the preferred date, and the language of the session.