MEF on pension counterproposal that would raise ONP pensions to S/600: “It is not on the agenda”

With images by Rosa Quincho / URPI-LR

The Minister of Economy, José Arista, reported that his office “does not have on the agenda” to present an alternative project to the pension reform that would speed up the increase in ONP pensions, which this year were to go from S/500 to S/ 600. However, he promised a solution that benefits the retirees who this Thursday the 14th began a hunger strike.

In 2023, President Dina Boluarte announced that, starting in January 2024, ONP pensions would increase by S/100. This increase in the minimum pension was tied to the approval, in Congress, of the Executive’s pension reform. But until now it remains stagnant.

“We don’t have it on the agenda, but here I am with Betty [Sotelo, viceministra de Hacienda] and we are going to see how we try to meet this request, which I think is acceptable, and how to give them a solution,” Arista highlighted during the presentation of Gerardo López as the new head of Sunat.

Along these lines, the head of the MEF said that they will seek to unblock the discussion around the destination of the contributors to the Peruvian pension system (SPP), in charge of the Pension Fund Administrators (AFP).

“Many times, when things come with complicated legal frameworks, laws, emergency decrees, higher levels of coordination are required. We are going to socialize the measure and see how we can address [a los pensionistas] if the solution in Congress is going to take too long,” he explained.

Precisely, Arista Arbildo reported that, in the pension part, an “actuarial” study was missing and that, in fact, a congressman had sent him a project, but without the analysis of how much the debt would amount to.

“What we are going to do is look for the actuarial study. We are going to complete all the documentation and send it to the congressmen so that they can make a more informed decision about the costs it means for the country,” he concluded.