The cabinet will raise an extra 30 million euros next year for improving purchasing power and reducing poverty in the Caribbean Netherlands. From 2025, this amount will be structurally increased to 32 million euros annually, as announced today in the context of Prince’s Day.
To support families, the cabinet increases child benefit by $ 90 per month per child as of 2024. This is in line with the ambition to halve child poverty by 2025. In addition, the cabinet will increase the minimum payments to the social minimum benchmark as of 1 October. From 2024, the minimum wage and minimum benefits will be further increased, the exact increase will still be determined.
The cabinet also maintains the energy allowance of $ 1300 per year. The subsidy for the fixed costs of electricity and the fixed rate of drinking water and the connection costs for the internet will also decrease further. In addition, extra money goes annually to better public transport and lower transport costs.
State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Van Huffelen acknowledges that it is not enough to ban the structural poverty of the islands. “We are not there yet, but it is an important next step to tackle poverty on the islands. I am very much looking forward to the findings of the Social Minimum Committee.dossierkoninkrijksrelaties.nl