The Coalition Government has committed to making decisions regarding pensioners in collaboration with the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). This statement comes in response to concerns raised by Opposition MP Premila Kumar, who advocated for the repeal of the 2011 FNPF Transition Act. The repeal would enable pensioners to bring their grievances to Court if they believe they have not received their due payments. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, noted that the actions by the military government in 2011 had broken the trust between the Fund and pensioners. He criticized that government for enacting laws that denied pensioners the right to seek justice for what he termed “unfair treatment.”
Professor Prasad highlighted that in the recent budget, the government allocated $4 million to restore pensions for those who had opted for a reduced amount in 2011. To address the immediate needs of affected pensioners, the Coalition Government implemented a temporary solution, allowing those over 70 years to receive a monthly social pension of $125 and those aged between 60 and 69 years to receive $115. The Ministry of Finance has coordinated with FNPF to manage top-up payments, with approximately $1.3 million disbursed to 1,300 pensioners since August. These payments follow the regular pension disbursement schedule on the 14th and 28th of each month.
In summary, the Coalition Government is actively working to repair the trust with pensioners by restoring financial support and allowing access to government assistance while acknowledging past injustices. This proactive approach signifies a commitment to addressing the financial needs of vulnerable pensioners, offering a hopeful outlook for better relationships and support in the future.
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