PCN to host congress on mandatory pension

Pensioen­fonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN) has organised a con­gress on Bonaire on No­vember 15 Chemed “Man­datory Pension.”

PCN is responsible for the pension of government employees as well as those working in healthcare and education. However, this only concerns a relatively small percentage of the to­tal population on the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eusta­tius and Saba).

By means of the congress, PCN wants to contribute to the general discussion about the introduction of a mandatory/general pen­sion, where all employees who do not yet participate in any scheme, would auto­matically and compulsorily participate.

“It is good to realise that most people on the islands do not have any form of supplementary pension on top of their AOV told age pension — Ed.],” says PCN chairman Harald Linkels. “In fact, employees who fall under PCN are a relatively privileged group with a good and sound supplemen­tary pension. But most em­ployees in the private sector have to get by with only the AOV when they reach the age of 65,” says Linkels.

The PCN chairman says that all sorts of investiga­tions, such as those of Na­tional Institute for Family Finance Information Nibud and more recently that of Regioplan Policy Research company, show that a single person on the islands needs at least around US $1100 per month to get by on our islands. “Almost twice the amount of the AOV,” says the PCN chairman.

By organising the con­gress, PCN wants to con­tribute to the discussion about the introduction of a general or compulsory pen­sion for all employees who are not covered by another pension scheme.

During the congress, vari­ous speakers will sketch a picture of the pension situ­ation on the Dutch Carib­bean islands, look at the way mandatory pension functions in Aruba, and explore several possibilities for a compulsory pension on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

The PCN chairman be­lieves the social partners on the islands should also take their own responsibility when it comes to the pen­sion issue.

“We can always look in the direction of Holland and expect them to come up with something, but in the end, we also have to de­velop initiatives ourselves and take responsibility. There is no reason why the local governments, in con­sultation with employers and employees, could not come to a general pension scheme, which ensures that everyone will have more income in the post-employ­ment phase,” says LinkeIs.

According to the PCN chairman, trade union um­brella Usibo in particular is strongly in favour of a gen­eral pension, but practically stands alone in their pleas. PCN will shortly provide more information about the programme for the congress and ways in which interested parties can reg­ister.

The Daily Herald.