The Government was planning to set up a task force to ensure the sustainability of pensions while looking into the introduction of the third pillar, Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said yesterday.

She told the Alliance of Pensioners’ Organisations the task force would embrace representatives of her ministry, the Finance Ministry and of pensioners’ associations.

It would be looking into the sustainability of pensions in a bid to improve pensioners’ quality of life.

The Government, she said, was committed to tackle the increase in poverty and social exclusion among the elderly.

Ms Coleiro Preca re-affirmed the Government’s stand against raising the retirement age, a pledge made by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during the electoral campaign.

She said the Government was planning to introduce the third-pillar pension, giving workers the possibility of putting money aside to complement the pension income.

This would be introduced without burdening workers and their families.