Aruba's new minimum hourly wage, explained

Afl. 11.58 per hour, from 1 January 2026

The statutory minimum is Afl. 11.58 gross per hour for employees aged 18 and over. For a 40-hour week that works out to roughly Afl. 2,007 gross per month. Live-in domestic workers, who receive board and lodging, have a separate lower rate of Afl. 5.35 per hour. The measure took effect on 1 January 2026 and applies across sectors.

Why an hourly floor changes the maths

Previously the minimum was expressed monthly, so staff working more than 40 hours a week could earn less per hour than colleagues on shorter weeks. The new rules fix this by correcting the conversion factor from 4.28 to 4.333 (52 weeks divided by 12 months). The result is a genuine per-hour guarantee that protects part-time and on-call workers whose hours vary week to week.

What employers must check now

Recalculate every employee's effective hourly rate and lift any that fall below Afl. 11.58, including part-time and variable-hours staff. Update contracts, pay slips and payroll software to the new factor, and document the change. Because underpayment can give rise to claims for the shortfall, it is worth confirming compliance in writing rather than assuming your existing salaries already clear the floor.

Part of a wider 2026 labour package

The hourly wage arrives alongside modernised rules on fringe benefits, allowances and the expat regime, and follows the recent increase in the statutory minimum holiday entitlement. Together these changes raise the compliance bar for employers on Aruba in 2026. Reviewing wages, leave and benefits as one exercise is the efficient way to stay on the right side of the law.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and we would be glad to review yours.