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Gibraltar pensioners must be awarded whatever upgraded pensions Spaniards get
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Whatever upgraded pensions are awarded to Spanish pensioners, the same must apply to Gibraltar pensioners, says The Gibraltar Pensioners Association.
Referring to their crowded annual general meeting recently, ?It soon became apparent that the item attracting most attention was the question of pensions for the pre-1969 Spanish workers in Gibraltar and the possible repercussions this would have on local pensions.?
The Association brought to the notice of the membership that very few replies had been received from the Official Side and that requests to meet the Chief Minister had failed. The committee feels that a meeting was imperative and should be arranged without further delay. In fact this communication is an open request for such a meeting to materialise.
Returning to Pensions for pre-1969 Spanish workers it has to be mentioned that these workers are being paid at 1988 rates, as are Gibraltar Pensioners. The present claim from Spanish pensioners is that they should be paid at today?s rates. Apparently this is a matter under discussions under the Tripartite Talks.
?It would appear that an agreement is imminent and indicators show that the British Government will be paying the Spanish Government an ex-gratia payment of about ?30 million towards the cost of the pensions. The Spanish Government will then effect payments to the ex-workers or the surviving relatives of those who have passed away since 1989. It is our view, and indeed most of the people of Gibraltar, that our pensioners or their widows must be treated in the same way and must obtain similar payments to those that may be applied to the Spanish ex-worker,? says a Press Release.
The Gibraltar Government, in order to pay our own pensioners, must match the amount that may be paid by the British Government to the Spanish Government. Under no circumstances can our pensioners be allowed to be treated less favourably than others. If Spanish pensions are unfrozen then the same arrangement will have to be made for all, Gibraltarians in particular. Moroccan pensioners should also be included in any such arrangement.
As a matter of interest one should consider the following important and relevant fact:
There are presently 6112 pre-1969 Spanish workers plus about 3000 surviving relatives of deceased pensioners;
There are 1600 Moroccan pensioners;
5058 British Pensioners (Gibraltarians and UK Nationals);
466 Other nationals, residents of Gibraltar.
All the above are in receipt of the undervalued Old Age Pension.
?We must unite to improve the benefits payable to all our pensioners and we are convinced that with the support of Government, Opposition, Trade Unions, pensioners and all members of our community we shall succeed,? said the Association.
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