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Diahuebs, 28 September 2023 AWEMainta LOCAL NEWS 31

Government Receives Manifesto from TOPA Union

Regarding Performance Management System

ON Wednesday morning, the TOPA Union approached the
Aruban Government at the Government Office with a mani-

festo regarding the Performance Management System.
Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes, Minister Geoffrey Wever,
and Minister Rocco Tjon received the union delegation.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Performance
Management System is a system that undoubtedly convinces
everyone of its importance for the public sector. It is a
uniform system for evaluating the performance of all public

employees. This system allows for the assessment of how
work is progressing and whether a public employee deserves
a promotion.

The reason the Aruban Government introduced this system
is that, before its implementation, there was no uniform
system for evaluation in the public sector. Some govern-
ment departments had their own systems, while others

lacked such a structured approach. Public employees have
raised concerns, stating that in some departments, promo-
tions are easily obtained, while in others, it is quite chal-
lenging. They also voiced concerns about not knowing the

criteria by which they are evaluated and having to wait until
the end of the year to receive evaluation results. These are
issues that have been occurring within government depart-
ments for some time.

With the Performance Management System, each employee
knows in advance what they will be evaluated on, and the
employee also sets their tasks and goals. Throughout the

year, department heads will evaluate each employee. “This
is a system that I am sure will benefit everyone,” stated the
Prime Minister.

The Performance Management System law was intro- “I thanked the TOPA Union for always engaging with the
duced last year and came into effect in January of this year. Government and for always maintaining a constructive atti-
However, unions approached the Government to suggest tude to find a solution. The Government will certainly consider
some changes. The Government invited all unions, but the their concerns in order to conclude this year, which is consid-

TOPA Union was the only one that engaged in dialogue with ered a pilot year for the Performance Management System. In
the Government and brought their concerns to the attention 2024, we will begin full implementation, taking into account
of the Government. the proposals brought forward by the unions. Although not all
Together with their manifesto, the TOPA Union presented a unions participated in the discussions with the Government’s

rather extensive report, which they had already submitted committee, we have considered all concerns to make the
to the Government’s appointed committee. However, they Performance Management System a better product that, in
did not receive a response to this report, which is why they the end, Aruba can benefit from, as it is something that we
also handed over their manifesto, requesting a response all believe in and can be applied uniformly in all government

from the Government within two weeks. departments and the public sector,” Prime Minister Evelyn
Wever-Croes stated.