Roseburg presents draft laws in 2027 budget debate

One proposed National Ordinance on Electricity Tariff Oversight would give the Bureau Telecommunications and Post, BTP, authority to examine and approve GEBE electricity tariffs, including the fuel clause, before they are applied to customers, Roseburg said. The draft would place tariff oversight arrangements under Ministerial Decree 2026/806 into legislation. She also raised the possibility of reimbursing consumers about Cg6.9 million if ongoing discussions determine that amount represents overcharges.

Roseburg also proposed increasing room tax from 5% to 10% while broader visitor-tax legislation is being prepared. She said additional revenue could support garbage collection, public sanitation, vulnerable groups and relief from high GEBE bills. Her proposed amendments to the Legesverordening would revise selected government fees and introduce paid express services.

Her proposed National Ordinance on Fair Temporary Contracts would set limits on successive temporary contracts and provide for permanent employment after those limits are reached. Roseburg said the proposal would also address short breaks between contracts and provide legal remedies for workers.

Roseburg asked for updates on appointments to the Social Economic Council, SER, a proposed screening law for political officeholders, and the government's work on temporary-employment legislation. She also asked about the continuation of a school breakfast initiative funded through a 50,000-guilder allocation and serving about 60 children, and requested an update on the Community Resilience and Training pilot programme.