Guide to Doing Business
in Suriname

Legal system

Suriname has a civil law system, which is based on the Dutch law system because Suriname was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands until 1975. The Suriname Civil Code is the main body in the law system.

Judiciary

The judicial system is independent. The Constitution of the Republic of Suriname specifically prohibits interference by the Government in active court cases. Pursuant to the Constitution, the president and vice-president of the court, the member and the deputy members of the Suriname Court of Justice, constitute the judiciary that is charged with the administration of justice in first instance and appeal in the Republic of Suriname. All judges of this National Court are elected and appointed by the Government for life and can only be removed at their own request or when reaching the mandatory retirement age. The Constitution also provides for a constitutional court , charged with determining the constitutionality of laws and regulations enacted in the Republic of Suriname. It is formed by the president, a vice-president and three members, who are all appointed for a period of five years by the President of the Republic of Suriname at the recommendation of the National Assembly. The judicial system is however backlogged, and cases can drag on for years. In addition, there is no competition law, but the National Assembly is currently considering drafting legislation in that respect.

Dispute settlement by arbitration

Since 2014 the Suriname Arbitration Institute has been re-activated.

Labour disputes

The Labour Dispute Law 1946 regulates settlement of labour disputes, not subject to Civil Code litigations by a Mediation Board. The Mediation Board is widely recognized for their settlement of labour disputes between employers and labour uninons.