The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) says its concerns about the new pensions act are being addressed by the government, with more amendments expected soon.
The union’s General Secretary Thomas Letang says Government has given assurances that retirees who may be disenfranchised by the changes will be compensated.
Under the newly amended Social Security Act the gradual increase in the pensionable age is expected to threshold at age 65 in 2021.
Letang has said there are implications for some public servants, concerns his union has been articulating to the governing Dominica Labour Party of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
“What government is proposing reflects our position, remember we had concerns and had written to government in that regard, we submitted a resolution to government requesting that something be done about the question of pension to public officers,” Letang told DNO.
“When we met on Friday, we were satisfied with what was presented to us and that had to do with the age at which public officers had to retire from the service and that is set at sixty,” the union leader said.
According to Letang the government “has decided to bridge that gap that is the period that they retire up to the time that they will receive their social security pension”.
This is pure BULLCRAP. It is mandatory that from the time you hit the employment stage you have to pay Social Security. Now when you retire you have to wait 5 years before you see a social security dollar…infact its not even social security dollar nah, our dollars we have been contributing to the scheme (as they say) throughout our working lives wi. What happen Social Security is a pyramid scheme man? BULLCRAP MAN! I think it would be better for all and sundry if we put our money in an MRA and call it a day.
i am not sure about this ,can i retire at 55 or must it be 65 to get benifits
Letang just saving face, the law of March 1 clearly state that the pension age will increase by one quarter every month, until 2031 when it will be 65 years so it was never an immediate jump from age 60 to 65.
Letang knew that but tried to make political mileage as if he negotiated something stupes!!
Social Security officials was on all radio including Q95 explaining the new amendment yet still Letang went off talking about jump from age 60 to 65 as if it was immediate.
They even gave an example that if you due to retire in september this year you will have to wait until December to get your full benefit (you will be 60 &3 months old)however if you want to retire before December that can be arranged but you will get a little less (3 months less), how hard is that for one to understand???
PPl like Letang too like to politicise everything sad real sad!!!
sorry every year not month, so this year is at end of 3 months next year is 6 months etc until it climaxes in 2031 when it will be 65 years!!
CREDIT RONNIE ISIDORE WHO WAS INSIGHTFUL ON THIS ISSUE….GET HIS CONTRIBUTION ON THIS ISSUE IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND POST IT FOR US
uncle Letang, i love you.people can say what they want u are an intelligent man.you work for your money and u serve our interest.when is the next meeting. we need to understand in layman’s term what is going, and we need to know for sure that in not parole en bouche.
thanks uncle Letang u have just addressed the future of my children
So those public servants want to wait until they are 60 yrs old to leave the public service? really? They don’t want the younger people to take up positions in the public service. Best they just stay there and die man
The government workers fall in the hands of the government and trust their leaders would hand them their pension at the age of 60. Our government must stop that dictatorial practice and emphasize their commitment on a plan to ensure the workers get all their benefits at the age of 60.A partially good government would issue a written letter to all stakeholders, stating in detail, information regarding their medical, insurance and other services that are available to them and the exact pensionable benefit.A bad government would find it hard to give pension at 60 but a wholly bad government would reward the people who sacrifice their resources to make our lives better at the age of 65.
Letang tell us in layman’s english so all can understand!!
As the saying goes… the proof is in the eating. This article is further proof that the DLP administration is one that listens and cares!
all i want to know is – what will happen to me when i retire at 60 from Public Service and cannot get my DSS pension without deduction until 65. And don’t tell me to do MRA and insurance. That is just nonsense. If I can work up to 65 now that is a different story. Tell the people the truth. The poor man going to be brokes from 60 to 65 years. That is 5 years without no money. People need to know the truth
do like me, open a member retirement account at NCCU. we need to save a bit for those years and now is the time … with the way time is flying we well soon be 60