GGCA Welcomes Equal State Pension Age For Men And Women

The GGCA has welcomed the introduction of legislation equalising the State Old Age Pension system, following the reduction of the pensionable age for men from 65 to 60.

A statement from the GGCA follows below:

The Gibraltar General and Clerical Association (GGCA) welcomes the coming into force of the new legislation which completes the equalisation of the State Old Age Pension system in Gibraltar.

This has been one of the GGCA’s longstanding objectives. We have consistently advocated for equality in the pensionable age for men and women, and we are pleased that this principle has now been enshrined in law.

With the new legislation now in force, the pensionable age for men has been reduced from 65 to 60 years, bringing it into line with that of women. In addition, the contribution requirements have been adjusted to reflect the earlier retirement age.

The changes include:

• The number of paid or credited contributions required to qualify for a full Old Age Pension has been reduced from 2,250 to 2,000.

• The minimum qualifying requirement for a reduced Old Age Pension has been reduced from 585 to 520 contributions.

• The pension calculation has also been equalised, with contributions now being assessed over a 40-year period instead of 45 years for men.

These changes represent a significant step towards fairness and equality and ensure that men and women are now treated on the same basis in respect of both pensionable age and the contribution requirements needed to qualify for a State pension.

The GGCA is proud to have consistently championed this reform and welcomes its implementation. This is a tangible example of what can be achieved through determined advocacy, constructive engagement and a steadfast commitment to improving the rights and conditions of workers.

We thank our members for their continued support and reaffirm our commitment to pursuing further improvements on behalf of all employees.