Pension Reform Will Have New Terms for New Enlistments into the Public Service

Francis Fonseca

The government has been pushing the point that the current pension scheme is not sustainable and that there will have to be a reform of sorts. Along with the discussions for pension reform is the suggestion that there be new conditions for new employees who are enlisted on system.

Francis Fonseca, Government Negotiator

“We can’t wait any longer. We have to have a effective start date. Anybody new coming into the service, these are the new, these are the terms and conditions of your employment. This is the contributory pension scheme that you will work under. Then we have this working group that we will set up. That’s what I’m saying. We’ll set up a working group to look at phase two.”

Reporter

“Inaudible”

Francis Fonseca

“Yes, yes. But we all know, and the union knows this, that the current structure is unsustainable. So that’s why we’re approaching it in two phases. So they have agreed to participate in this working group that will look at phase two. How do we then look at the current system that governs existing public officers and see what changes have to be made, um, in terms of the sustainability of that pension scheme moving forward. So we all understand that as much as we don’t want to make these tough decisions, we have to if we’re going to be a responsible government.”