by Linda Straker
- Under 3,000 pensioners currently in system
- New agreement provides for public officers to receive a 13% increase for 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025
- Agreement signed in March by Grenada Union of Teachers in June by Public Workers Union
Government pensioners have begun receiving a 4% increase in monthly payment which is reflective of the new contract agreement signed in March 2023 by the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), and the Public Workers Union (PWU) in June 2023.
“The Ministry of Finance advises pensioners that their September 2023 pension payment has been updated to reflect the 4% increase for the 2024 period. The 4% increase is applicable to the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, consistent with the increase agreed upon for public sector workers,” said a news release from the Government Information Service (GIS).
“Pensioners are further advised that their short payment for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 August 2023, will be paid by the next pay cycle, 15 October 2023,” the release added.
The new collection agreement provides for public officers to receive a 13% increase for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025. For 2023 and 2024, public officers will receive a 4% increase, and 5% for 2025.
The Pension Act provides for all public officers who have served in a pensionable office to be granted a pension from the Government upon retirement. However as of April 1984 the then People’s Revolutionary Government approved the Pensions (Disqualification) Act which said that any person who is appointed to a post in service of Government of Grenada on or after 4 April 1983 shall not be entitled to any pension, gratuity or other allowance under the Pensions Ordinance, Pensions (Prison Officers) Ordinance, Pensions (School Teachers) Ordinance, and Police Pensions Ordinance.
The 1984 law was in March 2022 ruled by the High Court to be a violation of pensioners’ constitutional rights. As a result, pensions to public officers were reinstated. There are currently under 3,000 pensioners in the system.
