SZW Lawyer

WO | Bonaire | 36 hours | Vacancy number: P&O2025_05_008 | Closing date: 3 June 2025

Job description:

As a Lawyer, you handle objections and appeals and represent the SZW CN unit in appeal cases before the Court of Appeal. You advise the management on the legal aspects of identified problems and you work with the Legal Adviser to find workable solutions. In addition, you are, together with the Lawyer SZW, responsible for the analysis of complaints, the complaint handling, and the discussion of observed patterns with the management in order to realise improvements in the services of the Unit.

Duties and responsibilities:

• You draw up decisions, statements of defence, and procedural documents in legal proceedings;
• You contact, as the handler, the person concerned and first try to resolve disputes outside the formal legal process;
• You plan and organise hearings, you monitor deadlines, you advise on objections and appeals, and you analyse complaints;
• You take care of the (further) expansion, dissemination, and safeguarding of legal knowledge of the legislation and regulations to be implemented by the SZW-CN Unit (including for objection cases);
• You take care of the transfer of knowledge to and the advice, supervision, and support of employees regarding legal issues;
• You proactively follow relevant developments within the discipline of SZW-CN, you report this to the unit management, and you advise them on important matters.

The organisation:

The Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) Unit is responsible for implementing the social security for the Caribbean Netherlands. In addition, SZW is responsible for the Labour Inspection CN, work permits, employment affairs, and Plenchi di Trabou. A total of approximately 55 employees work at the SZW Unit, of which 6 work on Saba and St. Eustatius. There are many developments in the social domain and the remit of the Unit is expanding. Among others, a childcare scheme, an Unemployment Act CN, and adjustments to the labour legislation are implementation schemes that, depending on political decision-making, will soon be implemented by the SZW Unit. The SZW Unit works towards a dignified existence for everyone in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Legal Affairs Department:

The Legal Affairs Department is responsible for the legal quality of the work carried out by the SZW Unit. The staff department fulfils an advisory role when it comes to (new) policy, legislation and regulations, and also acts as the handler in objections, appeals, and complaints. The Legal Affairs Department currently consists of two Lawyers and one Legal Officer. It is expected that the organisation will expand in the future due to new tasks.

Job requirements:

• You have completed legal training at the level of University Education (WO), preferably with a specialisation in Administrative Law;
• Experience in the handling of objection and appeal procedures within administrative law is preferred;
• You have affinity with the Caribbean Netherlands and insight into the specific context in which SZW-CN operates;
• You have excellent command of Dutch and Papiamento, and preferably also English and Spanish, both in the spoken and in the written word.

Competencies:

• Organisational sensitivity
• Planning and organisation
• Collaboration skills
• Persuasiveness
• Oral and written communication skills
• Assertiveness

What do we offer?

• A temporary appointment in conformity with the Rechtspositiebesluit ambtenaren BES (BES Civil Servants Legal Position Decree) for the duration of one year, with the option of renewal;
• A competitive salary in preliminary scale11 or salary scale 12 (of at least $ 4.111, - and at most $ 6.009, - per month), in case of a 36-hour working week. Assignment to a pay scale takes place based on knowledge and experience;
• Holiday allowance (8.33% of the annual income);
• A thirteenth month (8.33% of the anual income);
• A vitality allowance;
• A pension provision placed with Pensioenfonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN);
• 182 holiday hours in case of a full-time employment (36 hour) per year;
• A temporary appointment of one year with the prospect of a permanent appointment for good performance and a positive assessment result;A relocation package for candidates who react from outside Bonaire.

Procedure

An assessment, case and/or reference check may be part of the procedure.
The following order is taken into account in the selection:

• Official RCN staff on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (internal);
• Residents of the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (external);
• Other candidates (external);

Appointment requirements

The ability to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) and a positive result of the medical examination are required and part of the selection procedure. An assessment may be part of the procedure.

Good to know for those interested outside the Caribbean Netherlands

• The salary is in US dollars which is the official currency in the Caribbean Netherlands;
• The Caribbean Netherlands has its own tax regulations. Income above the tax-free allowance ($21,373 in 2025) will be taxed at a rate of 30.4% in payroll tax in the first bracket to an income of $51.250, - ; In the second bracket, a tax rate of 35.4% applies.
• You are or will become a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands.

More information?

For information about the vacancy you can contact Mischa Prinsenberg, general head of department on telephone number +599 795-2030

Digital application

You can send your Curriculum Vitae accompanied by a motivation to email: vacature@rijksdienstCN.com