Charity v justice

THE Fiji Times’ article, “Pensioners can access their new allowances from FNPF” explained that the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection had transferred funds to FNPF to top-up the reduced pensions of 1500 pensioners (FT 16/01).

My understanding is that these funds are from the “social pension” program for the elderly who have no other source of income.

The use of government funds for the FNPF pension top-up was announced in Parliament in the June 2023-24 budget speech by the Minister of Finance and Deputy PM Professor Biman Prasad who had declared that the 2011-12 FNPF reforms and pension reduction were “unilateral and illegal”.

More recently Prime Minister honourable Sitiveni Rabuka in an interview broadcasted by FBC is reported to have said: “When we retire, the FNPF pensionable age is 55, and we will get a certain per cent of that money as our pay until we die. However, the 2011 law changes brought about a reduction in pension rates, triggering legal and public opposition.”

Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka reportedly “.. acknowledged the judiciary’s stance against the 2011 changes, emphasising that the law was initially established through Cabinet approval under the Fiji National Provident Fund Act. The initiative seeks to support pensioners in their daily lives, especially those aged 70 and above, acknowledging their contribution to society.” (https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/ restoration-of-fnpf-pension-allowancesfor-financial-relief/). While this gesture is appreciated by affected pensioners, they rather not be objects of government charity, and be denied what is rightfully theirs, that is the full restoration of their monthly FNPF pensions.

They prefer substantive justice and accountability by FNPF which continues to misleadingly claim that FNPF contributions provide secure pensions on retirement.

The 1500 affected pensioners are living proof that FNPF pensions can be abruptly and illegally reduced by a military-backed post-coup government.

The tokenistic top up social pension payment of $125 a month falls far short of the 12-year pension compensation, and full restoration of pensions required to address the gross injustice committed against the affected pensioners by FNPF and the illegal military backed Bainimarama government.

PROFESSOR VIJAY NAIDU Suva