PHILIPSBURG:--- During the Parliament's Central Committee meeting on May 7th, 2025, Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling delivered a detailed presentation addressing the ongoing delays in the placement process for justice workers. Her remarks provided a candid explanation of the challenges faced by the Ministry and outlined the measures being implemented to improve transparency and efficiency in resolving long-standing issues.
Acknowledging the frustration felt by justice workers, Minister Tackling began by recognizing the historical complexity and mismanagement that have plagued the process. "This process has taken longer than expected, and I fully understand the growing frustration," she stated, emphasizing her consistent communication with both unions and justice workers throughout.
Challenges and Organizational Gaps
Minister Tackling outlined the numerous obstacles her Ministry encountered when she assumed office. She highlighted the lack of uniformity in the placement process, an absence of institutional memory due to the departure of a critical civil servant, and the resulting need for structural review and realignment.
“When I took over, I inherited a fragmented system. Processes were inconsistent across different batches, and the loss of key personnel compounded the operational challenges,” she explained. Additionally, she pointed out that the Ministry had been working off outdated personnel systems with incomplete records scattered across four different databases.
Further complicating matters was a concerning discrepancy between gross and net salaries, which, in some cases, led to unintended reductions in worker pay after placement adjustments. This issue made it clear that comprehensive validation of all placements was an urgent priority.
The Minister of Justice also noted that errors in previously issued national decrees (LBs) added layers of complexity to the process. She revealed that 20 out of 25 decrees in a recent batch were flagged by workers as containing inaccuracies or inconsistencies, a moment she described as pivotal in pausing to reevaluate the entire approach.
New Measures for Transparency and Efficiency
Minister Tackling presented a revamped approach centered on transparency and worker collaboration. To address longstanding concerns, batch validation is now being carried out in partnership with an independent consulting firm, SOAB, to ensure placements are accurate and fair.
She announced changes to the objection procedure to empower workers with more involvement earlier in the process. Justice workers will now receive draft decrees and complete files for review before finalization. This measure, she explained, will allow employees to raise objections early and reduce delays stemming from corrections submitted after decrees are formally issued.
“Justice workers deserve respect and clarity,” the Minister asserted. “This new process ensures they are heard, and their concerns are addressed systematically before any decision is finalized.”
The Ministry also plans to focus on handling justice workers by departments, with the upcoming combined batches (14 and 15) set to include all remaining workers outside the prison system. Batch 16 will exclusively cover the Pointe Blanche prison staff, a group that has received no placements despite carrying significant operational burdens.
Commitment to Accountability
Minister Tackling emphasized that the validation process and updated objection framework are essential to restore trust and accountability. She admitted the learning curve involved, but underscored the importance of getting it right the first time to prevent further delays or dissatisfaction.
"We cannot afford to rush ahead only to create more confusion and errors. Every step needs to align to deliver justice to our justice workers," she remarked.
Addressing Parliament, the Minister acknowledged the public frustration surrounding her Ministry's performance but reaffirmed her commitment to transparency, fairness, and efficiency. "This has been a long and complex process, but we owe it to our workers to ensure these placements are correct, transparent, and reflective of their service."
Moving Forward
Moving into the final phases, Minister Tackling assured that the Ministry of Justice remains committed to resolving justice workers’ grievances comprehensively. She highlighted that, to date, nearly 6.4 million guiders in retroactive payments had been disbursed to workers, and more are expected as batches are finalized.
The new measures, she hopes, will minimize further delays and missteps while addressing the structural challenges inherited from previous administrations. Her closing message was a call for patience and understanding as the Ministry continues its efforts to streamline the process and deliver overdue justice to its employees.