The labor inspectorate is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. It employs three labor inspectors within the Dutch Caribbean. Their job is to ensure that businesses and companies adhere to the labor protection laws and decisions.
Paramount importance for employees
The labor inspectorate is present on Bonaire, Saba and Statia. They keep the interest of employees in mind when it comes to occupational safety and working conditions in the different sectors.
The inspectors also monitor the payment of the minimum wage and the observance of the ‘Arbeidsregeling 2000 BES’, such as the permitted working hours. They come into action when an accident has occurred at a company. Employers are obliged to report an accident immediately to the Labour Inspectorate.
Bags of cement
Recently, the labor inspectorate on Bonaire noticed that the bags of cement the workers had to move at a construction market, had an unacceptable weight (42.5 kg). In consultation between the labor inspectorate and the construction market the contents of the bags of cement was reduced, whereby the weight of a bag of cement now is only 20 kg. This weight is within the international standards. The Labour Inspectorate is pleased that it is able to contribute to the improvement of working conditions and will continue to do so in the future. Do you have an example of dangerous working conditions, inform the labor inspectorate of it. You can reach them by
in******@ri***********.com or by calling +599 715 8584 or 599 715 8895.