From Mr J. DeBono

With reference to the article entitled Pension Reform Time Bomb (TMIS 7 August), I would like to add that it is not fair that the proposed pension reform discriminates between the younger and more mature generations.

It is a pity that readers are not supporting the ideas, which Charles Micallef expressed in his article Pension reform: stop abuses, ensure fairness (The Sunday Times, 29 May), since I feel that they are based on “good equality”.

As Mr Micallef defined it in his submission on www.pensions.gov.mt, “good equality” does not mean that what you give to one category of workers you give to the others. First, one has to assess whether all the categories can carry the same burden. He gave a clear example of this – in the last budget, the government increased bus fares for most people except students and the elderly.

In other words, “good equality” leads to fairness of rights, which, in simpler terms, implies not putting everyone in the same basket. Unfortunately, Mr Micallef’s philosophy may not be welcome or even tolerated by certain categories of workers, but this shows that the truth hurts. Nobody likes having to work longer hours than other categories of workers, and receive the same pension at the end of the day.

Most people do not have the opportunity to enjoy life to the same extent as others do when they are still young. Then it is only fair that when we grow old, if we are still alive, we are given a slight advantage over them to start enjoying retirement a bit before them.

This means that a pension is given on a pro-rata basis of hours worked. Employees working a 35 hour-week and others working a 48 hour-week, should both be allowed to benefit from the same pension conditions, such as early retirement schemes. People like police officers, soldiers, Customs officers, etc., who work more than 40 hours a week to provide us citizens and the country with an essential service, should be allowed to retire before others. Also, people who work overtime should be given the same conditions. However I need not stress that the pension scheme should be based on a voluntary basis. But workers must be given the liberty to decide for themselves when to work and when to stop working in order to retire earlier than the stipulated age.

Therefore, early retirement schemes should be enhanced, and the new pension reforms should be enforced as an optional basis, for workers already in employment.

The authorities concerned should look at pensions reform from a social point of view, as well as adequacy and sustainability. This should also be seen as an opportunity to create new openings such as promotions and employment opportunities for the younger generation.

Jonathan DeBono

Msida