Africa-Press – Botswana. Heads of government departments have been implored to engage their subordinates on issues of retirement to assist and prepare them for life after work.
North West Assistant District Commissioner, Mr Ramogaupi Gaborekwe said it was disheartening to see retirees leading a miserable life because they failed to plan ahead while still employed.
Mr Gaborekwe said in Maun Wednesday during a one-day workshop organised by NMG Administration Botswana which is duly appointed by the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) to share critical information with heads of departments on the fund’s role, governance structure and pension legislation as well as to solicit support.
Mr Gaborekwe observed that all employees would retire from active employment at some point and at the same time deserved a decent lifestyle beyond employment.
While he appreciated government efforts to introduce a program in which employees could live a decent life after retirement, Mr Gaborekwe said it was upon supervisors to conduct sessions to apprise their subordinates on how they could plan and cope after retirement.
Retiring, he said, could be a reward for years of hard work and as such, it could also trigger anxiety, stress hence the need to help employees while still working to get prepared and support their mental health and wellbeing.
Senor Administration Manager from NMG Administration office in Maun, Mr Tibayani Mabalani, said their company was responsible for contribution collection of BPOPF members and remitting excess for investment.
Mr Mabalani said the company kept membership records citing that the fund was fully in control of 148 000 active members of BOPPF while 11 500 were in pay roll of the fund.
“We also provide a comprehensive pre-retirement counselling and consultation as well as administrate pensioners’ payroll.”
However, Mr Mabalani said some of the challenges they encountered included delays in submitting files for exited members and that some claims were recovered from employer after a prolonged period.
He appealed to supervisors to assist in facilitating speedy processing of files so that members enjoyed their benefits on time.
Mr Mabalani decried late submission and late payments of contributions by some pay centres, noting that they should understand that interest was paid on the time of contribution.
Supervisors were also urged to ensure there was no salary payment after exit as it takes time to reverse over payment.
Inaccurate member data, critical claim documents and incomplete beneficiary information for death claims were also identified as challenges.
Mr Mabalani encouraged supervisors to remind their officers to be tax complaint citing that at times they experienced delays in processing payments because of non-complaint members.
“You should encourage officers to submit annual tax returns without fail because a tax compliance report is required when submitting claims to the administrator,” he added.
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