Preparations for a new BES Healthcare CLA have started

Preparations for a new BES Healthcare CLA have started: healthcare employers commit to equal quality of care and employment conditions

In February, the seven healthcare employers from Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire that are party to the BES Healthcare CLA spent three days preparing for the negotiations on a new CLA. During these preparations, the employers discussed in depth which measures are necessary and desirable in the coming years, from the perspective of staff, to continue providing good quality care on the BES.

Part of the preparation was a visit to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (ZJCN). This was the first time that a joint delegation of healthcare employers discussed their ambitions for healthcare on the BES and what they consider necessary to continue providing this care with sufficient and well-trained staff. In this context, the Unite in Care labor market platform, which will be launched this year, was presented.

BES Healthcare CLA

The current BES Healthcare CLA was agreed in 2022 with the unions AFBW, All for 1 and Suplua. This CLA expires on December 31 of this year. The CLA Parties have agreed to negotiate a new CLA this year. This CLA must contribute to providing good quality care for the residents of the BES, which is only possible with sufficient and well-trained staff. This requires appropriate employment conditions and arrangements that support the training and vitality of employees.

The current CLA was concluded by five employers. Last year, the Zorg en Welzijn Groep indicated that it wished to join the CLA negotiating table, which was received positively. This year, Primary Care Caribbean (general practitioner care on Bonaire) also indicated that it wished to become party to the BES Healthcare CLA, and this request was also received positively by all parties. The new CLA will therefore apply to seven employers and their employees on the three islands.

Equivalence

In the consultation with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the employers emphasized that equivalence is the starting point of their actions. This means equivalence in the quality and accessibility of care for the residents of the BES, and therefore equivalence in employment conditions, social security rights and working conditions for healthcare employees on the BES.

Although progress has been made in recent years with the implementation of the (first) BES Healthcare CLA, full equivalence with the European Netherlands has not yet been achieved. The healthcare employers remain committed to improving the quality of care and removing the differences in working conditions between the islands and the European Netherlands. This is essential to retain sufficient healthcare staff, especially in view of developments on the BES such as a growing number of young people, an aging population and population growth.

Further collaboration through Unite in Care

With the realization of the joint CLA, the employers have taken an important step in collaborating on labor market and HR issues. As a next step, the initiative arose to create a platform focused on strengthening the labor market in the healthcare sector in the Caribbean Netherlands. This platform offers healthcare and social care employers the opportunity to jointly seek solutions to the challenges the healthcare sector faces in this region, such as attracting and retaining well-trained staff.

With financial support from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the contribution of knowledge and capacity by FWG Progressional People, this idea was developed further. The result is a blueprint for an implementation model and a website that serves as the platform for the activities of Unite in Care. The name Unite in Care was chosen by the social partners in September 2025 during the CLA consultation and emphasizes the shared pursuit of a healthy labor market on the BES. The website and platform will be officially launched in June of this year.