Daley calls for reform of public pension system

Opposition spokesperson on gender, the elderly, and persons with disabilities Denise Daley is calling for an overhaul of the Government’s pension system, which she says is frustrating pensioners.

Daley, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine Eastern, addressed the issue on Tuesday during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

“One of the greatest injustices facing many retired public servants is not something that makes newspaper headlines. A public servant may dedicate 30, 40, or even 45 years to Jamaica. Their taxes are deducted every single month. Their statutory contributions are processed automatically. Yet when retirement comes, the system suddenly slows to a crawl. Months and even years pass,” noted Daley.

She lamented that in such a scenario pensioners are left wondering how they will purchase medication, settle their utility bills, or simply put food on the table.

“That is unacceptable. Retirement should not become a period of financial uncertainty after a lifetime of faithful service,” she insisted.

Pointing to significant delays faced by retirees before pension payments actually commence, Daley recommended that the verification process begin at least one year before retirement.

“Every necessary document should be reviewed, every discrepancy resolved, and every approval completed before the employee leaves the public service.

“Pension payments should commence immediately upon retirement, not months later,” she told the Parliament.

“While we modernise the system, let us not forget those already trapped within it. There are pensioners who have waited far too long for what they have already earned,” she continued.

Daley told her parliamentary colleagues that any reform must include a plan to eliminate the existing backlog so that those currently affected are not forgotten while new retirees benefit from an improved system. She also pointed to the impact of inflation on pensioners, describing it as “another issue deserving urgent attention”.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, many fixed-income pensioners find that the value of their pension steadily diminishes. A pension that once provided security can gradually become insufficient to meet even the most basic needs,” Daley said.

“Since they lived to see pension age, we shouldn’t try to kill them quickly because they can’t afford it,” she advised, eliciting laughter.

The Opposition MP said it should also be examined whether additional safeguards are necessary to ensure that pensioners are not pushed below the poverty line simply because the cost of living continues to outpace their income.

And, she told the House that another issue receiving far too little attention is the growing digital divide. She noted that increasingly, banking services, pension applications, Government forms and essential public services are moving online.

Daley acknowledged that technology undoubtedly brings efficiency but argued that efficiency should never come at the expense of accessibility.

She said, “Many senior citizens do not even own a phone, much less a smartphone. Others do not have reliable Internet access. Many have never received formal digital literacy training.

“As a result, they often find themselves standing outside cashless banking facilities, confused and frustrated, trying to access money that belongs to them. Some are forced to hand over their bank cards and reveal their PINs to relatives they don’t trust, neighbours, or complete strangers because they simply have no alternative.”

Daley argued that no Jamaican should have to compromise his/her financial security simply to access his/her own pension.

“Cashless banking must never become people-less banking, nor should it become defenceless banking,” she remarked.

She recommended that every cashless banking facility and every government office providing digital services have trained customer service representatives available throughout banking hours to assist elderly people requiring support.

These officers would be clearly identified and signs prominently displayed so that senior citizens know assistance is available as “support should never depend upon luck or the kindness of strangers. It should be part of the service itself”, she argued.

Daley also lamented that elder abuse remains a growing concern with financial exploitation, emotional abuse, neglect, and physical abuse running rampant.

“The elderly among us are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness and dignity. They have already done their part. It is now our turn to do ours,” she said.

The opposition spokesperson also argued that Jamaica’s senior citizens are much more than simply beneficiaries of Government programmes.

“They are the generation that built this country. They raised families, strengthened communities, and made sacrifices so that future generations could enjoy greater opportunities. They deserve our protection,” Daley insisted.

She voiced her frustration that despite the growing needs of an ageing population, Jamaica still lacks dedicated legislation to comprehensively protect its senior citizens. She told her fellow lawmakers that it was unacceptable that despite being first proposed in 2024, the Elderly Care and Protection Act is yet to be debated and passed into law.

“With more than 320,000 Jamaicans already over the age of 60 — and that number projected to increase significantly over the coming decades — this legislation cannot continue to gather dust,” she stated.

“It must provide meaningful protection against all types of abuse and financial exploitation. It must strengthen reporting mechanisms, establish minimum standards of care, and ensure that those who abuse elderly persons are held accountable,” Daley urged.