The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The BAHAMAS Public Service Union's (BPSU) president feels the Government should move to pass legislation providing for every employee in the Bahamas to have health insurance and some form of pension benefit at the end of their careers.

In a recent interview with Tribune Business, John Pinder said there were many persons, even in the civil service, who upon retirement go back to living below the poverty line because their pension is too small or, in some cases, non-existent.

Mr Pinder said: "We are still hoping that the Government could put some sort of law in place which speaks to every employee in the Bahamas having health insurance and some form of pension at the end of their careers.

"There are too many persons, after serving decades at various establishments and even in the public service, who go back to living below the poverty line after retirement. That is because their pensions are so small and, in some cases, there are no pensions to really subsidise their loss of income. We are really hoping the Government could put some legislation in place to make sure every employer has some pension benefit in place and health insurance."

The new Christie administration has pledged to bring employee pension funds under "closer regulation and supervision". This is "to ensure that pension funds are duly protected; and that trustees and managers of pension funds are held to higher standards of transparency and accountability; and that employees are afforded access to their pension savings for emergency purposes, including mortgage relief".

Mr Christie said the Government's commitment to National Health Insurance "remains solid", and that the Government will pursue preparations for the financially sustainable implementation of such a plan.

Mr Pinder said trade unions were still challenged with the stigma of being considered the enemy by employers. He said: "We continuously try to preach to employers that unions would like to be considered partners. We want to partner with you in the best interest of the workers who are our members. We believe that healthy and satisfied employees are more productive. Once they are happy, they tend to be more productive. Once you put incentives in place and there is advancement, there appears to be more productivity."

Mr Pinder said the industrial agreement signed between the BPSU and the Government back in 2005 was the first step towards public sector reform and getting rid of 'General Orders', which governs the public service.

Mr Pinder said: "It's sad that there are still a number of managers in the public service who have not familiarised themselves with the industrial agreement, and still try to discipline our members with the General Orders.

"We are hoping that when we sign a new industrial agreement it would certainly not be in violation of the public service regulations. We had challenged a number of things in the new Public Service Bill that came to Parliament under the former government. That Bill needs to be revised and brought back to Parliament."