Government postpones 15 per cent salary increase for cabinet and DNA for now

The 15 per cent pay increase included in the new pay scales as of 1 September 2026 will temporarily not be applied to members of the government and De Nationale Assemblée. The decision was taken on Tuesday, 15 September, during the government meeting. This temporarily puts the brakes on the increase for these two groups, while the increase for civil servants and other eligible persons will continue under the previously announced arrangement.

The reason for the decision is the resolution of 8 September 2026, which established the new pay scales per occupational group. It stipulates that civil servants and equivalent employees will receive a 15 per cent salary adjustment effective 1 September. Minister Marinus Bee of Home Affairs previously stated that the full increase will be processed at the end of September and will not be paid out in two instalments.

The government now says it needs more time to examine the consequences for political officeholders and to discuss the matter further. The cabinet is to reconsider the decision in October. According to the government statement, the outcome of that evaluation will then be shared clearly and transparently with society.

Criticism of 15 per cent pay increase for senior officials

The debate over the 15 per cent pay increase has received increasing political and public attention in recent weeks. A key point of criticism was that a general percentage salary increase, through existing legal links, could also be passed on to officials who already earn considerably higher incomes than many civil servants.

NDP parliamentarian Rossellie Cotino previously pointed out in parliament the consequences for high incomes. She called for attention to a salary cap for the president and to the way salary adjustments can be passed on to other senior officials. The discussion also involved the judiciary, which has since been excluded from the automatic increase through a separate process.

The criticism is mainly directed at the automatic increase in salaries at the political top.

Petition against increase for DNA members

Criticism was also voiced outside parliament. Rudy Drielinger and Radjinderkoemar Mathoera submitted a petition to De Nationale Assemblée on 8 September. They called attention to rising living costs and stated that DNA members already receive a substantial income. According to the petitioners, a further salary increase for representatives of the people should therefore be critically reviewed.

Key News previously reported on this petition against the salary increase for DNA members. The petitioners linked their objections to the financial position of many citizens and the pressure that higher living costs place on households. The discussion is therefore not only about the percentage, but also about the distribution of income improvements.

Proposal to break automatic link

VHP parliamentary group leader Asis Gajadien previously proposed temporarily putting on hold the salary adjustment for the director of Algemeen Bestuur. According to him, the president’s remuneration is linked to that position, meaning that an increase for the director can automatically be passed on to the head of state and subsequently to other political officeholders.

Gajadien wants to end that automatic link structurally and has indicated that a private member’s bill is being prepared for this purpose. His proposal was expressly not intended to block the 15 per cent pay increase for ordinary civil servants. According to him, it concerned solely the special legal link with the political top.

Also debate on position of DNA members

VHP parliamentarian Mahinder Jogi has also spoken in favour of separating the financial position of DNA members from that of civil servants. According to him, parliamentarians perform a political function and their remuneration should not automatically rise along with general salary adjustments for civil servants. He believes that the remuneration of representatives of the people should be regulated separately.

NPS parliamentary group leader Jerrel Pawiroredjo likewise stated that the increase should not automatically apply to the assembly, the government and the judiciary. A recurring argument in the criticism is that a percentage increase results in a much larger absolute amount for someone with a high salary than for an employee at the bottom of the pay scale.

Judiciary already treated separately

A separate process had already been announced for the judiciary. President Jennifer Simons held consultations on the matter with the Hof van Justitie. According to Starnieuws, it was agreed that members of the judiciary would not automatically receive the general 15 per cent salary increase. The financial position of judges is being handled separately.

The measure for cabinet members and DNA members thus fits into a broader discussion on the remuneration of senior officials. This also raises the question of whether the current legal links are still desirable and whether future pay increases for civil servants should automatically have consequences for political officeholders.

Evaluation of 15 per cent pay increase in October

The official resolution on the new pay scales was published by the Stichting voor de Rechtsorde in Suriname. It shows that the general increase for civil servants and equivalent employees applies from 1 September 2026. The decision now announced specifically concerns temporarily putting on hold the increase for members of the cabinet and De Nationale Assemblée.

The evaluation in October must clarify how the government intends to further handle the remuneration of political officeholders and whether structural changes will be made to the existing links. It must also become clear how the temporary decision will be implemented legally and whether additional decisions or legislative amendments are required.

Civil servants retain announced increase

For civil servants, the previously announced 15 per cent pay increase meanwhile remains the starting point. Minister Bee previously stated that the full increase must be processed at the end of September. According to the information currently available, the temporary measure for cabinet and parliament changes nothing about that general salary adjustment.

Attention is therefore shifting to the structural relationship between civil service salaries and the remuneration of the political top. The outcome of the review and evaluation in October will have to show whether the temporary suspension of the increase will be followed by a permanent change to the current system.