A Century of Struggle, A Long-Awaited Correction: Prime Minister Drew’s Pension Bill Makes History

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, April 30, 2025 (PMO) – In a powerful and historic presentation to the National Assembly today, April 30th, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, for the second time, and opened for debate, the Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a long-awaited and life-changing piece of legislation set to dramatically improve the lives of Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs) across the Federation. 

Declaring the moment as a historic one, the Prime Minister spoke with passionate conviction, stating, “This morning is a historical morning. It’s a morning that the workers of St. Kitts and Nevis, specifically our GAE workers, specifically our civil servants, have been waiting for, for many, many decades.”

The Pensions Amendment Bill 2025 will usher in a contributory pension plan, a major shift from the outdated and unsustainable 1947 pension model. Under the new legislation, GAE workers will, for the first time, be guaranteed access to pensions after 15 years of service, bringing long-overdue equity to the backbone of the civil service. “There are no second-class workers in this civil service under this administration. They are as important as anyone else and as important as me, because without them, I can’t be here, and I don’t confuse myself with that,” Prime Minister Drew declared as dozens of GAE workers looked on from the gallery.

The Prime Minister gave voice to the realities many workers face upon retirement, painting a stark picture of the past system that left thousands vulnerable. “Before the law passes, you’re not getting any pension. The only thing you’d get is a 60% from Social Security. And then you start to scratch your head…But what we are saying is that when we combine your pension plus your Social Security, it’s your full pay you’ll be getting.” The reform guarantees that retirees will receive up to 100% of their income when combining the new government pension with Social Security, allowing them to retire in dignity. “We want you to be able to retire in dignity, so they can’t cut no style upon you,” he emphasized, “You can continue to contribute, and you can retire in dignity. That is why we are bringing this for you for Labour Day 2025.”

A major feature of the new law is its inclusiveness, extending protections and benefits across the board regardless of political affiliation. Prime Minister Drew made clear that this is about people, not partisanship. “This law does not look at whether you are supporting this party or that party. This law covers our workers in this country. This is about everybody.”

The legislation also mandates the creation of a separate pensions fund to ensure long-term sustainability and guarantees that workers who resign before qualifying for a pension will receive full refunds of their contributions with interest. “Today, we are saying that if you leave before you’re qualified for gratuity, at least what you put in, you should get that…you can’t lose.”

With over 2,000 individuals expected to benefit from this reform, representing at least 10% of the nation’s working population, Prime Minister Drew emphasized the scale and significance of this advancement. “That is nothing to sneeze at. That is serious, that we are guaranteeing that 10% of our working people now get this benefit and will not retire in poverty.”

The Prime Minister also reflected on the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Movement’s historic legacy in protecting and empowering workers, from the birth of the movement in 1932 to this landmark bill being tabled on the eve of Labour Day 2025. “This is not just party politics. This is about a movement that seeks to move our workers from one stage in life to another…continuously improving and advancing.” 

He reminded the public that it was the Labour Movement that brought democracy, Social Security, universal education, and land ownership to the people. “It was the Labour Movement that fought for our people to be able…to send their children to school…that fought to get back the land…that fought for our workers to see independence.”

The Pensions Amendment Bill 2025 is one of the most transformative labor-focused pieces of legislation in the nation’s history and aligns powerfully with the government’s Sustainable Island State Agenda. “Empowerment is not feeling pity for people,” Prime Minister Drew declared. “This is not about pity. This is about people who have worked, and they must get what they deserve.”

Undoubtedly, this bill reflects the vision and values of the Drew-led administration — a government powering progress by delivering equity, stability, and justice to the workers who have long held the nation together from behind the scenes. 

“You have worked for it. And this Labour administration is happy to deliver it to you — the hardworking GAE workers of this government of ours,” Prime Minister expressed.

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