Walter Borja: “In November, 1,500 pensioners would collect their proportional pension”

Last week, the MEF published the operating regulations for ONP affiliates with at least 10 years of contributions to access a pension. Given this, Walter Borja, the new head of the ONP, tells what are the expectations that are had with this measure and the number of beneficiaries that would be reached.

When would the first proportional pensions be delivered?

We want to be the most expeditious with this procedure, in fact we have calculated that this benefit can reach 46,000 pensioners in the first year; however, by the end of October we would like to qualify and grant the right to at least 1,500 pensioners who could collect the payment made in November.

In November it takes shape …

It is our goal, in November we will pay the first proportional pensions to those that we are already qualifying for the applications that are presented these days.

What will happen to those who did not reach 10 years of contributions?

I must qualify for 10 years of contributions to receive a pension of S / 250 and qualify for 15 years to receive a pension of S / 350. But what happens if I do not achieve 10 years? They are given two benefits: one, if I aspire to have a 10-year pension, two years I can support them with an affidavit; and if I aspire to have a 15-year pension, I can support them for four years. But not only that is the condition that we intend to facilitate to pensioners to access their right, there is also the pension loan. If I have contributed nine years, but I have 1 year left to have access to the right, we can grant you a pension loan for one year that covers that missing year, and that person would be entitled to the 10-year right. In the case of 15 years, if I have contributed 13 years and I am missing two to support the right, I can access a pension loan that covers those two years and I would have expedited my right to receive my right and have the pension of S / 350 .

What will be the fiscal cost that proportional pensions will demand?

Of those 46,000 beneficiaries that we estimate in the first year, more or less the fiscal cost is S / 190 million, but the regulation not only considers payment of proportional pensions, there is also early retirement and pensions for beneficiaries for orphanhood or widowhood, and the total cost, including them, we estimate will reach S / 255 million in the year. These amounts are guaranteed in their provision by provision of the MEF; we do have the financial backing to be able to carry it out.

Going to other topics. Will you recommend updating the Recognition Bonus?

This has its development in the current unified regulation, it is true that due to the issues of the pandemic there have been certain delays in the granting of the Recognition Bonus, but it is a function that we continue to carry out and it is also an improvement to optimize the times and the quality. But that issue is on our agenda and we are taking it forward. What we want is to optimize the processes so that they are executed and carried out with opportunity and speed, thinking about the need of those that require that request.

What should be the axes of a pension reform?

We are a technical body specialized in the Economy and Finance sector, and it is in this framework that we are going to implement what the general government policy provides, there is a pending decision on the matter and it will be explained in the message of the inauguration speech of the new premier, establishing his position on this and other issues. But we do believe that a reform has its key pillars: sustainability, expanding the right and guaranteeing well-being to all people, and we will work to build the consensus that is required to achieve something like this.

Should the recommendations of the commission chaired by former Congresswoman Omonte be accepted?

Definitely, there was an effort to advance in this consensus building, as in the Social Protection Commission that worked between the end of 2016 and 2017, and also the voice of retirees, pensioners, of all the actors who have to do With this issue, there is much work to be done to build consensus that will allow for an effective pension reform.