GITEGA March 1st (ABP) – The Burundian Senate unanimously adopted, on February 25, 2022, in its hemicycle of Gitega (central Burundi), the bill amending certain provisions of Law No1/12 of the May 12, 2020 on the social protection code in Burundi.
In his explanatory memorandum leading to the drafting of that bill, the Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, Mrs. Imelde Sabushimike indicated that this bill has the ultimate goal of improving the retirement pension. She said the government would like the pension to be equivalent to the last net salary prior to retirement.
Mrs. Sabushimike explained that related feasibility studies have been conducted. “They have shown that welfare bodies can implement this government policy without causing particular difficulties for public sector affiliates,” reassured Minister Sabushimike.
Speaking about the innovations of this bill, she cited, among others, the first paragraph of article 84 which establishes the amount of the old-age or invalidity pension or the early pension equal to 100 % of the last net salary preceding the month of retirement or the month of certification of disability instead of another percentage.
On the other hand, she indicated that a second paragraph has been added to Article 6 which establishes an exception to the principle of a monthly pension equal to the last salary. “Certain members of the defense and security corps currently receive an old-age pension higher than their salaries. The reform would be detrimental to them if the common regime of the reform were applied to them,” said Ms. Sabushimike, before specifying that the draft law has kept the status quo there.
As for article 8, she continued, it revises upwards the minimum pension for current retirees which is 60% of the minimum inter-professional wage, (SMIG) that is to say concretely 2400 BIF. Rates of increase will be proposed by joint order without this pension being less than 30,000 BIF, she added.
Speaking of Article 9, she indicated that it leaves it to a joint ordinance, in particular that of the minister responsible for social affairs and that of public finance, to determine the level of the old-age pension for those who would touch high salaries on the threshold of their retirement.