Title: The special social security regime for parliamentarians: a hot topic in 2023
Introduction :
During a plenary session organized recently, national deputies examined and voted on the proposed law on the special social security regime for parliamentarians. This proposal aims to reduce the precarious living conditions that Congolese parliamentarians face once their mandate ends. In this article, we will look at the details of this proposal, the key points that were discussed during the plenary session and the issues related to this special social security regime for parliamentarians.
The key points of the proposed law:
During the plenary session, several points were examined and debated. Among them, the improvement of the pension granted to parliamentarians, the retirement age set at 55 years, the right to celebrate for former parliamentarians and the question of health care. On these points, decisions were taken, such as granting the right to celebrate to former parliamentarians and rejecting the amendment concerning health care.
Regarding the contribution, the responsibility falls to the offices of the two chambers to take care of it, since this contribution is withheld at source. In addition, a management department for parliamentarians from two chambers (Senate and National Assembly) must be put in place to manage the service.
An annual evaluation of the functioning of the special social security regime for parliamentarians will also be carried out by a quadripartite commission, made up of representatives of the offices of the National Assembly and the Senate, parliamentarians, the government and honorary deputies. This evaluation aims to ensure the stability and financial balance of the pension sector.
The issues and challenges to be met:
Despite the improvements brought about by this new bill, persistent problems remain. Previous laws have failed to resolve certain difficulties that Congolese parliamentarians face, particularly in terms of precarious living once their mandate ends. Controversies remain regarding the formula for calculating the retirement pension, as well as problems linked to the increase in the number of beneficiaries of the pension following the reduction in the age required to benefit from it.
In addition, the question of retirement age continues to generate debate. Some MPs propose reducing the age to 50, while others emphasize that eligibility for retirement must be linked to chronological age and concern all elected officials, including the widows of deceased parliamentarians.
Conclusion :
The proposed law on the special social security regime for parliamentarians constitutes a relevant topical subject in 2023. National deputies discussed and voted on the various points of this proposal, aimed at improving the living conditions of Congolese parliamentarians once their mandate has ended. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding retirement pension and retirement eligibility age. It is therefore essential to find lasting solutions to ensure the financial stability of this special social security regime for parliamentarians.