Police retirement allowances suspended for retirees in govt posts

The Police Retirement Rules have been amended to suspend the payment of retirement allowances to former police officers who take up employment or hold positions within the state or government institutions after retirement.

The amendment, gazetted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday, states that the retirement allowance will be suspended for the period during which a retired police officer is employed in a government or state position. The allowance will resume from the month following the officer’s resignation from such employment.

Under the revised rules, a retired police officer who takes up an elected position in the state or employment in a government-owned company is required to notify the police service. If the retirement allowance is paid during such employment due to failure to provide notification, the amount must be returned to the Pension Administration Office as instructed by the police.

The amendment further states that if an employer provides a retirement or end-of-service package when a retired police officer leaves an elected post or government job, the individual must choose between that package and the police retirement allowance.

The changes came into effect on Thursday and will also apply to police officers who retired prior to the amendment.

The issue of retirees receiving pensions while holding other government posts has drawn public and parliamentary concern in recent months. Some members of parliament have said the practice places pressure on the pension system.

The government has also appointed retired officials to senior positions in several state-owned companies.

President Mohamed Muizzu has previously said the state is bearing the cost of both retirement allowances and salaries at the same time. He said relevant agencies had been instructed to suspend retirement allowances for retirees appointed to government positions or elected offices for the duration of their service.