Rayford Mbulu
GOVERNMENT says it is still engaged in extensive consultations with social partners on proposals to increase the retirement age from 55 to 65.
Speaking at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation public forum on the proposed review of the retirement age policy in Lusaka yesterday, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Rayford Mbulu said that there are various views on whether Zambia should adopt a graduating retirement policy, which entails workers receiving their pension at 55 and continuing work on contract until the age of 65.
“We know most workers have serious concerns on this subject of raising the retirement age from 55 to 65.There are various views on whether Zambia should adopt a graduating retirement policy whereby workers can receive their pension at 55 and work on contract until the age of 65,”Mr Mbulu said.
He said Government is currently engaging social partners in extensive consultations in order to reach a consensus on the best options available as compared to what is obtaining in the sub-region.
Mr Mbulu said considerable progress has been made on the issue with the effective help of social partners.
“Areas of sharp differences are being addressed with the hope of finding commonalities.
Once the consultative process is finalised, Government will certainly issue a position paper on the proposed retirement age policy for wider consideration,” he said.
The minister said the topic on age is currently subject to ongoing discussions with the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC).
Mr Mbulu said Government has already made public its intentions to revise upwards the retirement age.
“We believe there are many positives associated with this, especially at a time a time when our gross domestic product (GDP) and life expectancy is rising, and many people are now living longer due to the availability of life-prolonging drugs,” he said.
Mr Mbulu said a longer retirement age is likely to bring in affordability payment terms for house loans among local people and lead to pension reforms.
“We have challenges with existing social security systems which are set to fix through wholesome reforms. We believe that by deferring pension benefits, we will help pension fund managers to invest workers’ pension savings in viable business ventures.
“This will surely benefit workers in the long run through a higher yield or interest on their pension savings,” he said.
Lekeni ifikote fiye mukutusha. Ala naifwe tulafwaya inchito. We will not get jobs as long as ifikote tafileleka. Ala lekeni ifi fibantu fiye mukusunga ifibata , inkonko, imbushi ne nkumba pa ma farm.
I feel sorry that you never had a father. If he was a teacher, you wouldn’t call him “ichikote”. Best you can do is to get a rope and hang yourself. How can you fail to get a job if you have some education and respect. Who on earth can employ you with such language.
There is no need for consultations, and with wrong people for that matter. Let the old go and leave space for the young ones – graduates to take up their spaces. Why do we train people for if we still want to keep old chaps with tired brains in formal employment until 65 years? Only brainless fellows who do not plan their future are scared of retiring. Government should also play its part in ensuring that retirees are paid their dues as they vacate office to avoid throwing them into the world of poverty and distress. Some even die without enjoying their dues. This is what scares these old folks from retiring. So Mbulu and your government stop politicking and work to straighten up things such as paying retirement packages in time.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long….” Exodus 20 vs 12
Make your point without insulting your parents. Is that hard to do?
South Africa official retirement age is 65. unless there is a special case in consideration in our country otherwise I don’t see anything wrong with the Idea
South Africa set their 65 to keep the old white people in employment even when their contribution diminishes. With the increasing number of youths unemployed, there are growing and loud calls for revision in this country. You cannot keep these old and finished people in jobs while their children are loafers.
South Africa set their retirement age in recognition of the insatiable demand for skills and the dynamic, ever growing Knowledge economy they have cultivated over the years. That is why to date RSA can still import labor from the lowest semi-skilled to the highest skilled professional. Apartheid aside, they have a reason for doing so. What is your justification in Zambia????
What is important is reflecting life expectancy in this policy. If average life expectance stands at 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60, it would be uncovincing to set retirement age at 65. In European countries life expectance is arround 80 years and its justifiable there to have retirement age ar 65 or there about. Some arguments are convincing than others. Do not just copy and paste just because others are doing it. Local scenario must be considered.
@Floyd, not local scenario.
KK is 90 yrs old, and was kicking ball the other day. in 1964 all the 90 yr olds where dead.
Look at pictures of Zambian National team of 1977 vs 2014 Chipolopolo.They can’t play together. Those abena Chitalu when they were in the 20s looked old, and had children. Not utu utubena Mbola.
Retirement age should be at 80.
in politics you can retire at 65 not normal work in there are old and u useless minister don’t shift the rubish to other sectors kanshi whats wrong with pf everything they say and do is opposite they cant even
Even in politics at 65 one’s brain cells are giving up. Look at where this government of ‘ifikote’, like someone put it, is taking us – wrong direction.
who came up with the idea that a persons’ abilit to perfom ends at 55… In modern societ it is called descrimination against age…but since we are EVER behind as a nation, let us ‘CRY’ for 55…remember people are living a bit longer world over
What kind of govt can take a dual policy on such a matter? Contracts only work for specialized staff and the only limit should be their ability & willingness to work. In case you do not understand HR issues, do you want to have people at the level of cleaners, clerks and lower cadres on contract? Really is that a fair way of applying labour laws and what will be the gradient for such cadres of employees? Something is not right. All that is needed in this case is a bold decision to retain the retirement age or shift it to 65years of age. The alternative you are thinking of will be too expensive to administer and it will leave the govt broke.
People who are sitting in these committees should look at a lot of issues affecting a worker and a retired officer. With this cost of living the money a worker is earning per month is not enough to see him through the next salary it is only a week after getting the salary a worker is already broke. The worker struggles to educate his/her children through small businesses or small loans from the banks and the money recovered from the same salary, how can you expect this worker to build a house with this cost of building materials in preparation for his/her retirement? The conditions of services says upon paying a retired worker repatriation and leave terminal benefits a worker should vacate the govt hse before he/she receives his retirement package is this money enof 2 build a hse?
I agree with Mr.Mbulu’s suggestion to pay pensions to retirees at 55 then by 65 on oppotional contracts. but please consider paying retirees package with their last salary. By the way, since I retired seven years ago I get punctually my montly pension except this month, what has happened? That little money goes a long way to buy newspapers everyday to remain well informed. As for children insulting us as’ifikote’ you will be luck if you ever reach our age, remember commandment number 4….honour your mother and father (every elderly person) to live long and remain blessed. May God forgive your vulgar language this Easter!
If we had a functional private sector this debate would not even be there. Whereas typically you should work in a skilled job for at least 5 years and then strike out on your own in order to create jobs, in Zambia we still believe in pensionable jobs. With the shortage of employment slots what will you do to the youth being churned out of institutions if you cannot cater for the skills for which they are being trained? How will you manage the armies of idle youth who are getting accustomed to getting piecemeal assignments in the name of being cadres for political organs? Justification must come with responsibility and reality I say.
MWE BANTU LEKENI IFIKOTE FIYE TUSHAKO PA MA FARM.
Mwebalumendo mwantula imbafu ku nseko. Ati ifikote. Mwebo mukekalilila abalumendo? YABA! Awe mwansekesha.
pliz let da retirement age b optional whoever feels 55 z ok let he/she retire and whosoever wish retires at 65,there z nothing wrong.
Retiring at 65yrs, fyabupuba. If you have not prepared yourself by 55yrs,what guarantee is there that you will be prepared by then. Leave room to the young also ala. Niwamuyaya syndrome iyo. TICK,TICK,TICK , 55 is fast approaching ba mambala