Artisanal fishers were given the opportunity to transform their lives, and ensure they can have a peaceful and financially stable retirement.
Officers from the Ministry of Fisheries, Seychelles Fisheries Authority and the Seychelles Pension Fund have organised a series of stakeholder meetings with fishers across various regions on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. These meetings were aimed to educate and encourage young and elderly fishers to apply for the new Fishers Pension Scheme, which will become operational early this year. These interactive meetings allowed for certain improvements to be made to the existing policies behind the proposed Scheme.
There has been a growing demand for fishers to receive adequate benefits upon retirement, as pension contributions are not common within the fishing community in Seychelles. During the meetings, attendees were provided with insights into the Scheme and valuable information about pensions and their benefits. While fishers voiced their concerns, the majority expressed satisfaction with the initiative, seeing it as a step towards retirement with more dignity.
Similar meetings were also held on Praslin and La Digue, ensuring that fishers from these islands are equally informed and encouraged to participate in the new Pension Scheme.
