Reduced NI pension

I am one of some 8,000 ex-civil servants, police and AFM officials who receive a Treasury pension following long years of service to the government and people of Malta.

Following legislation enacted in 1978 which came into force on January 16, 1979, all civil servants, police and AFM officials on the pensionable establishment were effectively denied their right to a two-thirds national insurance pension in spite of having fully paid their national insurance contributions.

These officials are in fact being robbed of what rightfully and legally belongs to them were it

not for the infamous legislation referred to. On average each one of these officials is losing a few thousand euros a year.

On two occasions, the Nationalist Party in its electoral manifesto declared that if elected, it will work towards finding a remedy to this injustice. So far it has been all talk and no remedy.

The Times of July 21 reported that “former National Bank of Malta shareholders have been assured by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi that the government had a moral obligation to help them”.

All I can say to that is “good luck to all shareholders”.

In view of this declared “moral obligation” to help National Bank shareholders to get their hands on a few million euros, would the Prime Minister kindly also make a public declaration that the government also has a “moral obligation” to help ex-civil servants, police and AFM officials to get the few thousand euros which they have been denied by successive governments in the form of a reduced national insurance pension?

The reduced NI pension we are receiving through this legal theft is a national shame which has been going on for far too long now – practically as long as the NBM saga!

I look forward to a declaration by the Prime Minister that the government has a “moral obligation” to help us get our pension and remove this anomaly and grave injustice – or else to inform us of the reason why this injustice cannot be removed.