Retirement age likely to increase to 65

By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 19 June 2019, 10:00PM

The Government has been urged to increase the retirement age of public sector employees to 65 years.

The call came from the Fa’asaleleaga No.1 Member of Parliament, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow, during the Parliament session on Wednesday.

“The law as it stands has the retirement age at 55 and this is not a new issue. However, I still want to make a point that the Government should reconsider increasing the age to 65,” she said. 

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi then asked legislative drafters to "write down 65" moments after Gatoloaifaana made the call.

Tuilaepa also said to consider 70 as the retirement age. 

The Prime Minister then turned to the retirement age for the judges and the gap is 62 years of age. 

“However, the judges appealed to the Government to increase the retirement age to 68,” he added. 

Under the Public Service Commission policy 55 is the retirement age for civil servants. 

Another issue Gatoloaifaana also raised was the new Electoral Constituencies Act, and how it made it mandatory for Savai'i residents to vote in their respective villages.  

“I know for fact is the dishonesty of the voters in the past led to the law nowadays. I ask the Parliament to please reconsider this aspect of the law.” 

She said there is a significant number of voters that did not vote during the recent by-election and that is a cause for concern. 

In April this year, Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio said 1,011 eligible voters did not cast their vote in the recent by-election.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 19 June 2019, 10:00PM
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