The police union NAPB told Parliament on Thursday that justice workers remain without crucial insurance coverage and face long delays in receiving their official employment decrees.
NAPB President Marcus Pantophlet addressed the Justice Committee. He appeared visibly nervous. He stated that the lack of insurance is one of the most urgent problems. He gave an example from May 2025. During a prison riot, officers had to intervene without being properly insured.
Pantophlet clarified that the issue is not about government compensation for damages, known as “smartengeld.” Instead, it is about a specific insurance policy that officers paid into. That policy lapsed in 2023.
NAPB Treasurer Janice Philips supported this. She said members had been paying insurance fees since 2022. However, the deductions stopped under a national decree in 2023. This ended their coverage.
She explained that a 2024 agreement promised to include insurance within a “smartengeld” scheme. This has not happened yet. The union has asked for clear answers but has received none.
“The coverage was for 400,000 guilders,” Philips said. “It included disability, life insurance, and a death benefit.” She noted that four officers had already benefited from the policy before it ended.
The union representatives explained the policy’s history. It was provided by NAGICO after a bidding process. It was created because families of deceased officers were often left without support.
President Pantophlet also raised a second major issue: delays in issuing landsbesluiten (national decrees). These decrees finalize an employee’s legal position and salary.
“Why is it taking so long?” Pantophlet asked MPs. “Why does one person get theirs before another?” He said members constantly ask, “I want my LB.”
Treasurer Philips echoed this frustration. She said the decrees were supposed to be finalized in 2024. She questioned why one batch of decrees took eight months to process.
“Our members are frustrated,” Philips said. “These delays are leaving justice workers demotivated and mentally stressed. We just want answers.”
Sharon Cangieter, President of WICSU/PSU, assisted the NAPB. She explained that a separate agreement exists. It states the government will provide 100% “smartengeld” coverage for justice workers.
“From my understanding, all members of the Justice Ministry are covered with that insurance,” Cangieter said. She clarified that this government coverage is separate from the lapsed NAGICO policy.
However, she agreed that most workers are unhappy with the delay of their landsbesluiten. Only a few are satisfied with just seeing a draft of their decree, she said.
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