Aruba’s minimum wage is now set by the hour: what Afl. 11.58 means for your pay

Since 1 January 2026, anyone working in Aruba who is 18 or older and entitled to the minimum wage must be paid at least Afl. 11.58 for every hour they work.¹ Until then the minimum was a monthly amount, which quietly short-changed people on long weeks.

Below: what changed, how to work out the minimum for your own hours, and where to go if a payslip or a job offer doesn’t add up. This covers Aruba only; other parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have their own minimum wage rules.

Why the minimum moved from the month to the hour

The old law set a minimum monthly wage. On a 40-hour week that came to Afl. 11.58 an hour. Spread the same monthly pay over 45 hours and it fell to Afl. 10.29.² The hourly rule closes that gap: every hour now counts the same.

Parliament approved the change unanimously on 1 September 2025, and it took effect on 1 January 2026.¹ The way a month is counted changed with it. The formula now uses 4.333 weeks per month (52 weeks divided by 12) instead of 4.28, which took the minimum for a 40-hour week from Afl. 1,986.20 to Afl. 2,007.05 a month.³

Who is covered?

Employees aged 18 and over who are entitled to the minimum wage, whatever their hours. A five-hour part-time job is covered in the same way as a long full-time week.² Domestic workers have two rates:¹

• Not living in the employer’s home: Afl. 11.58 an hour, like everyone else.
• Living in, with board and lodging from the employer: Afl. 5.35 an hour.

The government’s announcements only describe the rules for employees aged 18 and over. If you’re younger, or unsure whether your job falls under the minimum wage, the Directorate of Labour and Research (DAO) can tell you.

How do I work out the minimum for my hours?

Multiply your weekly hours by Afl. 11.58 for the weekly minimum. For the monthly minimum, multiply that by 4.333.¹ Or let the check below do it:

The government suggests that anyone earning Afl. 2,257.93 a month or less runs the numbers for their own hours.³ The DAO’s SUELDO calculator does the same sum in Papiamento, Dutch, English or Spanish.⁵

Checking a job offer

With an hourly minimum, offers with different hours become easy to compare. Divide the monthly pay by your weekly hours × 4.333.

An example. Afl. 2,100 a month for 45 hours a week is about Afl. 10.77 an hour (2,100 ÷ 194.985). For an employee aged 18 or over that is below the minimum: 45 hours a week should pay at least Afl. 2,257.93 a month.

Not every listing on Aruba Jobs shows a salary. When one doesn’t, ask about pay and weekly hours before you say yes, so you can run this check yourself.

What employers should check

• Everyone aged 18 or over paid close to the minimum, especially part-timers and anyone working more than 40 hours a week.
• Monthly salaries worked out with 4.333 weeks, not 4.28.
• The pay in your job listings, against the hours you list. Our guide to writing a job listing covers the rest.

Unsure whether the minimum applies to someone on your payroll? Ask the DAO before the next pay run, not after.

Where to get help

The Directorate of Labour and Research (Directie Arbeid en Onderzoek, DAO) answers questions about the minimum hourly wage:¹

• Website, with answers to common questions in several languages: daoaruba.com
• SUELDO calculator: daoaruba.com/index.php/sueldo⁴
• Phone: 523 7720
• Email: directiearbeid@aruba.gov.aw

Quick answers

What is the minimum wage in Aruba in 2026?

Afl. 11.58 an hour for employees aged 18 and over who are entitled to the minimum wage, since 1 January 2026.¹

What is the monthly minimum wage for a 40-hour week?

Afl. 2,007.05 a month: 40 hours × Afl. 11.58 × 4.333.³

Does the minimum wage apply to part-time work?

Yes. The hourly minimum applies however many hours a week someone works.²

Who do I contact about the minimum wage in Aruba?

The Directorate of Labour and Research (DAO), on 523 7720 or directiearbeid@aruba.gov.aw.¹