WILLEMSTAD – Adjusting pension benefits alone will not be enough to eliminate poverty among elderly residents in Curaçao, according to the Advisory Council.
In its review of a proposed pension reform, the council warned that even if past indexation gaps are corrected and a supplemental pension is introduced, many elderly people would still remain below the minimum income level required for basic living expenses.
The council emphasized that while pension adjustments could help restore some lost purchasing power, they do not address the broader issue of structural poverty among older citizens.
For that reason, the advisory body recommends that the government develop a broader income policy focused on ensuring economic security for elderly residents.
Such a strategy, the council said, should complement pension reforms with additional social measures aimed at reducing poverty and improving financial stability for retirees.