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Deadline extended for pension scheme

by Ananda Kannangara

The deadline granted to female public servants who have not entered the Widowers and Orphans Pensions scheme (WOP), by the Ministry of Public Administration, Management and Reforms will expire on February 28.

A recent survey conducted by the Ministry has revealed that 150,000 female public servants have still not applied for this scheme.

The survey also indicates that out of 350,000 females in the entire public service only 225,000 have obtained the membership.

"Obtaining the membership of this scheme by persons who joined the Government service after 1990 has drastically increased compared to the statistics available during 1970 to 1985," Public Administration, Management and Reforms Minister Vajira Abeywardena told the Daily News. The Minister also said that 97 per cent of workers who joined the service during the past several years have obtained membership of this scheme.

"We hope that public servants who have not yet entered the scheme will not miss this golden opportunity, extended by the State considering the future prospects of their families," the minister said. Under this scheme spouses of female public servants will receive the full pension entitlement of the wife in the event of her sudden death while in the service or after the retirement.

A senior public official said that many employees are reluctant to join the WOP scheme thinking that even the past instalments will be deducted from their salaries.

"But no additional instalments are deducted from their salaries other than the instalment, deducted from the month they join the scheme," he said.

He further said that it is compulsory for new recruits to the Government service to obtain the membership of the scheme.

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