Retirement Age 65 – Pension Act Receives Mixed Feelings

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Retirement Age 65 – Pension Act Receives Mixed Feelings

Posted by AllAfrica on October 20, 2011 0 Comment

Clever Zulu 20 October 2011 THE cry of many youths who were the main contributors to the regime change from the former MMD polity to the current Patriotic Front (PF) was an opportunity to be given a share of the national cake through Job creation. President Michael Sata has since proposed for the revision of the withdrawal age from 55 to 65 years, a move that has been received with mixed feelings. The head of state has defended his decision by stating that some people have continued to show the zeal to work even after attaining the retirement age. Mr Sata said, “It seems people still wanted to continue working even after they had retired hence the need to up the retirement age to allow the ones that want to continue working to do so.” He added that certain professions like in the sciences or in the judiciary where judges are supposed to fling at 65 years because at 55, one is gaining more wisdom. However, in a nation that allows its people to have a say on issues affecting them, different reactions have been received since the president made the pronouncement. Japhet Lungu a Matero resident regrets the proposed move and argues that the youths that are graduating from various institutions of learning, would not immediately find employment, owing to the fact that the older generation would still be clinging on to their jobs. “You see young man if I continue working until that age I will not give you a chance to become a policeman. I must fling after 50 years so that you take up my job,” he said. Another in his mid 20s said the government should instead reduce the current retirement age in order to accommodate the large numbers of people who die before their retirement. Obed Phiri, a Lusaka resident attributed the premature deaths to lack of government will to provide basic health needs and challenged the government to first improve on health provision and later increase the retirement age. However, there are still scores of people who hold contrary views on the subject. A scholar at one of the local universities, Panji Nyangulu in his 30s welcomed the move by the government to increase the retirement age saying as a student studying for a master’s degree, it is good to increase the retirement age to compensate for the time one spends on tertiary education. “The education sector is not conducive for young ones to compete their tertiary education at a tender age but if they increase the retirement age many graduates at masters and PhD levels will be able to contribute effectively after their education,” he said. But the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has a proposal to the government before they adjust the retirement age. ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said the union executive consulted its members on the recent Presidential pronouncement on retirement age. Mr Hikaumba said his union had discussed the adjustment of the retirement age at various fora in the past and received different views from the members. “Some members are of the view that the retirement age should be adjusted upwards to at least 60 years while others are of the view that the retirement age should actually be reviewed downwards to 45 years,” he said. The ZCTU president his organisation had discussed the issue with members where it was suggested that if the Pensions Act is to be adjusted to the proposed 65, then a provision should be in place to allow those that want to retire at the age of 50 to do so. “The final proposal to the matter was that besides the mandatory retirement age, the Government should put in place a provision for those that want to retire earler to do so with full benefits. ” However, the Pensioners Association of Zambia welcomed the pronouncement but urged the Government to consider revising the monthly payment for retirees. Association national secretary Charles Mubita said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government should also consider implementing the medical scheme for retirees. Mr Mubita said the monthly payments given to retirees are inadequate, with the lowest getting as low as K100, 000 while the highest got just concluded K1 million per month. “When you consider what retirees are getting and compare it with the food basket, it is nothing to talk about as the food basket for a family of six is pegged at K2.1 million,” he said. Mr Mubita said the medical scheme which retirees are supposed to be enjoying is not being implemented as most of them are asked to pay for medical services at Government hospitals and health centres. The onus is now on the Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu to review the Pension Act either to up the retirement age or to reduce it or better still increase it but put in a provision for one to retire after he or she reaches the age of 55 and leave those that still have strength to continue working and retire constitutionally at the proposed 65. Be the first to Write a Comment ! More News on allAfrica.com Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement

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Retirement Age 65 – Pension Act Receives Mixed Feelings