The Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance met today, Tuesday, 1 February 2022, and discussed the following issues:
1. The Pension Benefits for State Employees and Employees of the Wider Public Sector Including Local Government Authorities (Provisions of General Application) (Amendment) Act, 2022.
(Bill proposed by Mr. Panikos Leonidou, MP for the Limassol constituency)
(File No. 23.02.063.004-2022)
2. The Pensions of State Officers (General Principles) (Amendment) Law of 2022
(Legislative Proposal of Mr. Panikos Leonidou, MP for Limassol Constituency)
(File No. 23.02.063.005-2022)
3. The Pensions (Amendment) Law of 2020
(Proposed law of Mr. Panikos Leonidou, MP for the Limassol constituency)
(File No. 23.02.061.141-2020)
The Committee began the debate in principle on the above-mentioned legislative proposals, the purpose of which is to amend the existing legislative framework in order to, inter alia:
a. in the case where a deceased has had more than one marriage, the widow's pension shall be apportioned proportionally to all the surviving spouses of the deceased on the basis of the duration of each marriage; and
b. in the case where a deceased has had more than one marriage with the same person, the widow's pension shall be calculated taking into account the duration of each marriage and provided that the total duration of the marriage was at least five (5) years.
During the discussion, reservations were expressed with regard to the constitutionality of the proposed apportionment of the widow's pension proportionally to all surviving spouses of the deceased on the basis of the duration of each marriage and the need for further clarification of the proposed regulations in order for them to be applicable. Therefore, the Committee will continue its consideration of the above legislative proposals at its next meeting to be scheduled in March to give the required time to the relevant departments and stakeholders to study the proposed regulations in detail and submit their views/comments in writing.
4. The delay in the payment of pensions, allowances and other benefits of the Social Security Fund, the problems caused to the beneficiaries and the need to take measures to address them.
(Self-investigation on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance)
(File No. 23.04.038.473-2021)
The Committee continued the discussion of the above registered matter under the ex officio procedure, in the context of which it examined the progress of the implementation of a single computerized system for the management of the relevant applications, as well as the measures taken to address the delay in the payment of pensions, allowances and other benefits of the Social Insurance Fund. It was decided to continue the discussion on this issue at a future date, at which time the progress that may have been made in relation to the resolution of the problems related to this issue, as well as compliance with specific timetables set by the Executive to this end, will be monitored.
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