Retiring teachers against new requirements by Pension Dept.
View(s):Retiring teachers in government schools have requested the Public Service Commission PSC to look into a new system imposed by the Pension Dept. that causes much hassle in the disbursement of Widows and Orphans pensions (WAOP) to teachers.
The new system where retiring teachers have to obtain all documents from the areas they have worked in, when preparing their WAOP fund, has irked many in the Education sector.
A new condition of the Pensions Department is that teachers have to submit certified documents of all deductions from the Zonal offices of the schools they have worked in.
The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) claims a retiring teacher has to visit all Zonal offices of areas they have worked in, in order to prepare the W&OP for his/her family. Hence, a teacher who has served for 30 years, in schools, has to visit several Zonal offices in order to apply for his/her pension.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the new system is unfair on persons who have served in several schools during their service. “This is unfair and tedious for the person,” Mr Stalin said.
Earlier, the files of all pensioners were maintained by the Pensions Department. - CC