Bhadain Says Ramgoolam May Review Rs 15,555 Pension Rate

Opposition politician Roshi Bhadain has claimed that Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam personally told him he would "review" the current basic retirement pension rate of Rs 15,555 — after Bhadain raised concerns about its adequacy. According to Bhadain, the conversation took place directly with Ramgoolam, who reportedly "listened" to his arguments and said he would look at the matter again. Bhadain did not specify when the exchange occurred or what form a revision might take. **What is the basic retirement pension in Mauritius?** The basic retirement pension — known locally as the "pension vieillesse" — is a universal, non-contributory monthly payment made by the Mauritian government to all citizens aged 60 and above, regardless of their employment history or income. It is funded from general tax revenue and administered by the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment. The current rate stands at Rs 15,555 per month. Critics, including Bhadain, argue this amount is insufficient to cover the rising cost of living in Mauritius, particularly for elderly citizens who rely on it as their primary or sole source of income. **Who is Roshi Bhadain?** Roshi Bhadain is a lawyer and politician who previously served as a minister in the Anerood Jugnauth government. He later broke away to lead his own party, Reform Party (Parti Réformiste), and has been a vocal critic of both the current and previous administrations. He is known for his outspoken positions on governance, financial crime, and social policy. **What this means** If Prime Minister Ramgoolam does follow through and revise the pension upward, it would directly benefit hundreds of thousands of Mauritians aged 60 and over who receive the universal pension. Any increase would also carry significant budgetary implications, as the pension scheme is one of the largest items in the national social spending budget. Bhadain's claim is, for now, unverified and based solely on his account of a private conversation. The Prime Minister's Office has not issued any official statement confirming a review is planned. Observers will be watching the next budget or policy announcement for any concrete move on pension rates. The pension level has long been a politically sensitive topic in Mauritius, with successive governments using increases as electoral tools. Whether this reported exchange translates into policy remains to be seen. Source: Le Defi Media