Guide to Doing Business
in Curaçao

Cessantia

The employee whose employment agreement is terminated without fault on his part or for a reason that cannot be attributed to him is entitled to a onetime monetary compensation known as the ‘cessantia’ (provided the employee has been employed for at least one year). This cessantia payment is regulated in the Cessantia Ordinance (Landsverordening Cessantia) and is calculated based on the years of service. The employee must claim his cessantia pay within one year after termination of the employment agreement.

For employees who will become entitled to a pension or general old age pension after termination of their employment agreement, they will only become entitled to cessantia, provided that (i) the pension is not less than the old age pension and (ii) if the old age pension, when deducted from the pension, is not less than twice the amount of the old age pension applicable at that time.