The Temporary Work Organization (TWO) has published its annual report for the year 2025. The theme: Staying the Course.
“The year 2025 was the year in which many reforms from the Country Package were finally underway. But everyone knows: halfway through the journey, out at sea, the challenges are often the greatest. Rough seas, headwinds, and unexpected setbacks demand perseverance and improvisational skills. Staying the course, pulling out all the stops, and keeping all hands on deck are essential to reach the harbor safely.” This is how TWO program manager Judith Jeurissen explains the theme of the annual report in the foreword.
In 2025, the collaboration between the TWO and its partners in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten further strengthened and deepened, based on respect, complementarity, and trust. This is reflected in the various interviews with partners and project leaders who work on implementing the Country Packages on a daily basis.
“They are the driving force behind the sustainable embedding of reforms and deserve immense praise for their tremendous efforts,” says Jeurissen.
Topics That Impact Society
The annual report provides a behind-the-scenes look at subjects such as social security, education, and the economy—areas and projects that directly affect society. Think of reforms to make the labor market more attractive, modernize education, or strengthen local entrepreneurs’ knowledge in emerging sectors like the orange economy.
Emphasizing the Power of Collaboration
The interviews also highlight the strength of the collaboration between Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands.
“This is the beauty of the Country Package. The local teams and the teams in the Netherlands have built a strong bond through this program. Communication with the TWO is professional and accessible. We know how to find each other quickly, and the specific context of Sint Maarten is well understood. The collaboration is truly that: collaboration!” says one of the interviewees.
TWO in Numbers
In 2025, the TWO spent €21.2 million on the implementation of the Country Packages. In 2024, this was €19.4 million, and in 2023, €19.7 million. This includes both project financing (program) and costs for TWO staff, other Dutch ministries, and experts hired or contracted for specific projects in the countries (apparatus).
In Aruba, 2025 saw significant investment in strengthening the financial function (€1.5 million) and improving the labor market (€0.6 million). In Curaçao, a large part of the funding went toward the education financing system and a registration system (€0.6 million) and economic development (€0.6 million). In Sint Maarten, major focus areas included strengthening the HR function and IT renewal (€2 million), the Future of Finance program (€1.8 million), and various projects at the tax authority and to improve the investment climate.