Minister of Justice Arthur Dowers announced on Wednesday that Aruba will strengthen enforcement against businesses and individuals who employ undocumented workers. The measures include administrative fines of up to 10,000 florins per worker for individuals and 25,000 florins per worker for companies.
Over the past year, the Government of Aruba offered undocumented migrants an opportunity to regularize their immigration and employment status through the Hunto pa Progreso program. The initiative aimed to address labor shortages across various sectors while giving migrants an opportunity to obtain legal status.
With the program now in its final phase, Dowers said the government will step up enforcement, noting that foreign workers have been given opportunities to regularize their situation.
One recurring issue is that some employers begin applying for an initial work permit while the foreign worker is already in Aruba and, in some cases, already working. Such applications are often denied.
Under the required procedure, first-time applicants must apply from abroad and remain there until they receive a VTA (Voorlopige Toelating Aruba), or provisional admission. This authorization allows them to travel temporarily to Aruba to complete the required medical screening, which is part of the residence and work permit process. It does not authorize them to start working.
The clarification is intended to prevent employers and applicants from wasting time and money on applications that cannot be approved because they do not meet the entry requirements.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that foreign workers comply with all applicable legal requirements. Failure to do so can result in substantial fines.
