Thousands of Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs) in St. Kitts and Nevis are one step closer to receiving retirement benefits under a comprehensive pension plan, following the tabling of landmark legislation by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew.
During his appearance on the popular radio programme Issues on Tuesday, 15th April, Prime Minister Drew described the legislative move as “groundbreaking,” noting that it is designed to rectify a long-standing injustice that excluded GAEs from formal pension coverage.
“Thursday, we are going to do a groundbreaking piece of legislation. We are going to lay before the National Assembly the comprehensive pension plan which will include pension for GAE workers, GAE workers who have retired and GAE workers who are actually working,” Dr. Drew stated.
The proposed legislation covers categories of public workers traditionally outside the formal civil service structure—such as crossing guards, environmental sanitation workers, hospital support staff, and drainage maintenance personnel—who have long been denied retirement security.
“Thousands of workers will see a significant improvement in their work life, and only a Labour government could have brought something like this. Why is this important? We believe in the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party in adjusting people’s wages where possible, putting in pension plans because these are more secure,” Prime Minister Drew added.
As Minister of Finance, Health, National Security, and Social Security, Dr. Drew further emphasised that the proposed plan will be protected by law, meaning any future changes would require parliamentary approval.
During the 17th April sitting of Parliament, Dr. Drew tabled the Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Government Auxiliary Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for their first readings. These legislative steps aim to formally integrate GAEs into the national pension framework.
The initiative aligns with the Labour administration’s broader agenda to enhance social protection and improve the quality of life for workers across all public sectors.
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