The Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2025 received unanimous support and was passed in the National Assembly on Wednesday April 30^th.

The Bill introduces a contributory pension plan that is fair, sustainable, and backed by a professionally managed Pensions Fund – no longer tied to unpredictable government revenue. More than 2,000 Government Auxiliary Employees (GAE’s) or Non-Established (NE) Workers in St. Kitts and Nevis are to benefit directly from the new pension law ending decades of exclusion and second-class treatment.

Workers will contribute 3% of their salary, and after 15 years of service, they will qualify for a full government pension; a gratuity is available after 10 years.

Also, combined with Social Security, retirees can now receive up to 100% of their income, ensuring they do not retire into poverty. However, workers who resign early will receive a full refund of their contributions with interest; if medically unfit or deceased, early pension access and survivor benefits apply.

Retirement age standardized at 62, aligning pension access with Social Security eligibility for consistency and predictability. The legislation corrects injustices made under the former administration, which had slashed gratuity payments to GAE’s. A separate Pensions Fund is now established, with annual audits and actuarial reviews every three years, safeguarding long-term viability.