The nightmare of retirement

MEMBERS of the teaching service, having given the majority of their lives to educating and moulding the nation’s children, look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labour on retirement.

The compulsory age for retirement, at least for the moment, is 60 years. However, members of the teaching service can access voluntary retirement from age 50, according to the Pensions Act, under specific circumstances.

Once a member of the teaching service has completed 400 months (33.33 years) of pensionable service and does not have any unclassified extended leave, he/she can expect to be paid the full superannuation benefits based on the provisions of the Pension Act.

It is important to note that one has two options when applying for one’s superannuation benefits: a full pension, usually two-thirds of your last salary before retiring, or a reduced pension of usually half of the last salary, together with a gratuity. The calculation of the superannuation benefits is pro-rated should the employee not attain the requisite 400 months of service.

The Ministry of Education requires members of the teaching service to submit an application for compulsory retirement along with supporting documents (original) a year in advance of the date of retirement. The intent of such a requirement is to facilitate the timely processing of the application and the eventual disbursement of the retiree’s benefits immediately on retirement.

Unfortunately, this is not the reality.

There are far too many retirees who are forced to wait inordinately long periods, sometimes in excess of a year, for the payment of their superannuation benefits. Many have had their hard-earned savings depleted and are on the verge of being paupers, some having to depend on the generosity of family and friends.

It is extremely difficult not to be emotive when TTUTA is bombarded, on a daily basis, with the tearful stories of our retired members, especially the indifference of ministry officials in treating with their plight.

The savings that one accumulates over the years should not be used to substitute the untimely payment of the retiree's benefits.

The timely payment of the National Insurance retiree benefit at 60 usually filled the gap and provided some measure of financial relief for the retiree until the pension is implemented.

But this benefit is also being delayed due to incomplete records at the National Insurance Board (NIB), with retirees being forced to get certification of service and weekly contributions from the employer before an application for these benefits can be made to the NIB.

Inadequate staffing and the persistent presence of "mould in the vault" makes this simple request a major challenge. The retirees are at the mercy of two inefficient entities of state.

Why should people who have contributed to the most important sector of our society have to be subjected to such levels of indignity and marginalisation? Is this the reward for dedication, patriotism and national service?

The historical inefficiencies of the public sector are well documented, but rather than improve it seems to be deteriorating. The utilisation of modern technologies – the digitisation of records and the timely update of databases – will remedy the majority of the issues faced in the various ministries and statutory bodies. Paysheets were computerised over four decades ago.

Imagine that there are, in this 21st century, still paper-based records. A past permanent secretary had digitisation of the ministry as his top priority. Online application of leave, digital record-keeping and the timely classification of leave were at an advanced stage of implementation. This digitised system to be implemented would facilitate the timely payment of the employees' superannuation benefits.

Apparently this was put on the proverbial back burner on the transfer of this official.

Furthermore, the Government has a Ministry of Digital Transformation which is supposed to guide the transformation of the various arms of government. The delays in having a more efficient government are placing undue stress on the citizens of this country; the inefficiency is nothing short of scandalous.

The retirees' superannuation and NIS benefits are the property of the retirees, and delaying their payments is a travesty of justice. It is, as stated by High Court judge Ricky Rahim in claim no: CV 2021-02843, between Samuel Friday and the Attorney General, a breach of the constitutional rights of the claimant to have his pension and gratuity payments delayed for over two years due to administrative issues.

Justice delayed is justice denied. The Government has a duty to correct this as soon as possible.