St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government Delivers Landmark Pension Reform for GAE Workers Ahead of Labour Day
Basseterre, St. Kitts — 30th April, 2025 — Just days before the 5th May Labour Day celebrations, the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Government has secured a landmark victory for workers with the passage of the Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — a transformative piece of legislation that provides long-overdue pension security for Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs) across the Federation.
In an emotionally charged session of the National Assembly earlier today, the gallery was filled to capacity with members of the public, including scores of civil servants, GAEs and pensioners — many of whom were historically excluded from pension benefits under the outdated 1947 system.
Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, introduced the bill with conviction, hailing it as a watershed moment for the nation’s workers.
“This morning is a historical morning,” Prime Minister Drew declared. “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.”
Correcting a Historic Injustice
For decades, thousands of GAE workers retired without access to a government pension, relying solely on reduced Social Security payments that often left them in financial hardship. The newly passed legislation replaces this injustice with a contributory pension scheme that guarantees access to government pensions after 15 years of service. This allows retirees to combine government and Social Security benefits for up to 100% of their pre-retirement income.
The Pension Act ensures:
- The creation of a separate and sustainable pension fund
- Refunds with interest for contributors who leave public service before qualifying
- Equal access to benefits, regardless of political affiliation
- Immediate benefit to over 2,000 workers, or roughly 10% of the national workforce
“That is serious — we are guaranteeing that 10% of our working people now get this benefit and will not retire in poverty,” Dr. Drew affirmed. “There are no second-class workers in this civil service under this administration.”
A Tribute to Labour’s Legacy
Timed deliberately near the annual observance of Labour Day, the bill’s passage is a powerful tribute to the 93-year-old St. Kitts Nevis Labour Labour Party's historic fight for workers’ rights — a fight that has delivered universal education, Social Security, land reform, and now pension equity for GAE workers.
“This is not just party politics,” Dr. Drew reminded. “This is a movement that seeks to elevate our workers from one stage in life to another… continuously improving and advancing.”
The law’s universal scope affirms the government’s commitment to people, not partisanship. “This law does not look at whether you are supporting this party or that party. This law protects all workers across the nation. It’s about every citizen, not political stripes,” Dr. Drew continued.
Labour Party: Still the Workers’ Champion
Commenting on the passage of the historic legislation, National Secretary of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Comrade Meshach Alford, noted:
“This is far more than a policy shift — it’s a reaffirmation of what the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has always stood for: fairness, dignity, and justice for workers.
The timing of the passage of the Pensions Act ahead of Labour Day is deliberate and deeply symbolic. It signals that this Labour Government is not only conscious of our proud history, but is firmly committed to carrying that legacy forward for future generations.”
Powering Progress with Purpose
The Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2025 reflects the government’s broader Sustainable Island State Agenda, rooted in justice, dignity, and empowerment.
“Empowerment is not feeling pity for people,” Prime Minister Drew concluded. “This is about people who have worked, and they must get what they deserve. 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.”
With this bold reform, the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party Government signals a new era of dignity and protection for all workers — past, present, and future.
