Labor Law

Experience

Our labor law practice supports the day-to-day management of working relationships in Curaçao, including HR policies, benefits, workforce changes and union matters. For advice focused on an individual contract or dismissal, see employment law.

Our work includes employer policies, individual employee advice, pension arrangements and labor disputes. We assess the relevant legislation, agreements and case law for the issue presented.

For HR directors and business owners, a workforce question often affects several policies or teams at once. We assess the existing documents and the proposed change together. Individuals seeking advice before signing a contract or responding to a dismissal can use our employment contracts and disputes service.

Human resources support

• Planning, strategy and drafting of employment policies and manuals that meet local requirements
• Work permit applications and processing for employees and senior management

Benefits and pensions

Pension questions can concern the wording of a scheme, an individual's claimed entitlement, or a proposed change affecting a workforce. Our pension work forms part of the labor law practice and includes:

• Structuring employment benefit packages for C-level executives and employees
• Designing incentive plans, including stock options and bonus structures
• Pension fund assistance, renegotiation and restructuring
• Drafting pension plans and agreements

For a pension review, provide the scheme rules and amendments, relevant employment or departure agreements, benefit statements and correspondence about the disputed entitlement or proposed change. Identify the employer, fund or insurer involved, the jurisdiction, your role and any response or hearing deadline. Changes to future benefits and questions about benefits already accrued need to be assessed against the applicable documents and law; the answer should not be assumed from a general description of pension law.

For an example of the firm's work, read the historical pension claim defence in Curaçao. That case concerns its own documents and facts and does not determine another person's entitlement. Contact ZL Attorneys to discuss a pension arrangement or dispute and the scope of assistance needed.

Termination and severance

• Terminating labor contracts and dissolving labor agreements
• Designing severance packages and assisting with layoff programs
• Advising and negotiating settlements for companies dealing with dismissals, termination and severance
• Representing employees in wrongful termination litigation and negotiations

Trade secrets and intellectual property

• Advice on civil and criminal action against employees who breach confidentiality or infringe trade secrets
• Drafting employee handbooks, work rules and operating procedures that set clear standards of conduct

Labor and union matters

• Drafting labor contracts and designing workforce restructuring programs
• Advice on all union-related and regulatory matters
• Handling labor disputes
• Labor rules in mergers and acquisitions
• Collective labor agreement negotiations

Planning a workforce review

Describe the workforce, employing entities and locations involved. Provide the policies or handbook under review, representative contracts, relevant collective agreements and the benefits or pension documents affected by the proposed change. Identify the decisions already taken and any consultation, negotiation or implementation dates.

Agree whether the assignment concerns a specific document, a proposed reorganization or continuing HR advice. The scope should identify the deliverables, responsible contacts and how individual employee issues will be handled. The Curaçao hiring guide is a useful starting point for recruitment planning.

Workforces in more than one jurisdiction

This page focuses on Curaçao. If the workforce also operates in Aruba or Sint Maarten, identify the employing entity and workplace for each group. Local legislation, agreements and representation requirements need separate assessment; a policy used in Curaçao should not be assumed to apply unchanged elsewhere.

Contact ZL Attorneys to discuss the workforce project, the jurisdictions involved and the support you need.