Grenadian Trade Unionist In Support Of Increased Retirement Age

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 2, 2019 (CMC) – President General of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union (GTAWU), Andre Lewis, says he supports increasing the retirement age, which now stands at 60.

“To be very blunt with you, to be very frank with you, I am in support for the extension of the age. We have to make tough decisions, we are capable of making tough decisions, we have a history of surviving,” Lewis said, while delivering remarks at the first, in a series of consultations, undertaken by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The consultations, which will be held with various stakeholders, throughout the island, is part of an educational information-sharing process, aimed at providing the public with knowledge on the current financial situation and the need for changes to the NIS law.

“Change is never easy, but as a people, an intelligent people, we have to make risk assessment; we have to determine, if we continue along the same path, we will not be getting the different result, we will be getting the worse result. We are confident that there must be changes within the NIS, and this is where we are guided by the actuary, but you must be involved in these discussions, so as to ensure that you understand why we are doing this,” he told the consultation.

Urging the participants to take the discussion seriously, because the outcome will result in changes to the NIS legislation, Lewis, who represents the labour movement in the Upper House of Parliament, said the proposed changes will affect, both employers and employees.

“Some may require a change in the age of retirement, some may require a higher contribution, but see this as an investment…As night will turn into day, you will reach retirement age,” he said, while pointing out that state pension will be the only option for non-unionised workers, upon their retirement.

“Therefore, the state pension, the NIS pension, is absolutely necessary, and we must do everything that is necessary to ensure that it is sustainable, that it will be around for you.  What you are benefitting today, those who are 60 or 65, are from those who contributed before and, therefore, we have a solidarity responsibility for our children and our grandchildren, to leave that framework to ensure that they can get their retirement benefit from NIS,” Lewis said.

Recently, Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell, disclosed that there is a need to change the NIS legislation, to increase the age of retirement and raise the contribution, from nine to 11 percent.

However, as part of the educational process, before a final decision is made, the government has instructed the NIS to consult with the people. The report from the consultation will determine the type of changes that will be made into the law.

The main changes that are being lobbied for, are: increasing the age of retirement, increasing the mandatory contribution for the monthly pension payment and increasing the contribution, from both employer and employees, by one percent.

The changes were recommended, since the 2006 actuary, and though the country has changed administration through the years, this is the first time that a ruling administration has given the Board instruction to consult with people about such proposed change.

The 2009 actuary predicted that the NIS will, in 2017, begin paying out more than it will collect and based on the data, presented during the consultation, that prediction has become a reality.

The educational sessions are scheduled to conclude in June. The next sessions will take the form of town hall meetings in Petite Martinique and Carriacou, on April 11 and 12, respectively.