As of 2015, the total population of Mauritius over the age of 65 has increase from 8 percent to 9.56 per cent from 2012, and in 2008 this group faced a relatively low incidence of poverty at 6 per cent. This low incidence of poverty among older persons has been achieved through the Government of the Republic of Mauritius’s long commitment to income security for older persons with the implementation of the Basic Old Age Pension, introduced in 1951. This non-contributory scheme offers basic and universal income security to all eligible citizens of Mauritius and is administered by the National Pension Fund and supervised by the Ministry of Social Security and Solidarity.
The Basic Old Age Pension targets citizens of Mauritius aged 60 years and over who have resided in Mauritius for a combined period of 12 years after the age of 18; however, the scheme is available to all Mauritians after the age of 70 regardless of residency. The pension is also available to non-citizens who have lived in Mauritius for at least 15 years, combined, after 40 years of age, including three years prior to the claim. Eligible older persons are entitled to monthly payments calculated according to age. Claimants aged between 60 and 90 years are entitled to receive MUR 3,146, or USD 102 per month. Those between 90 and 100 years of age are entitled to MUR 9,357, or USD 303 per month, while those over 100 years of age receive MUR 10,621, or USD 345, per month. In additional to the basic pension, an Enhanced Basic Retirement Pension is available to pensioners who are totally blind, paralysed, or otherwise need constant care. The basic pension is also complimented by two contributory schemes, which provide coverage to those in the public sector and formal private sector. In 2011, 100 per cent of older persons in Mauritius were covered under the Basic Old Age Pension.
Mauritius has achieved basic income security for older persons as part of the Ministry of Social Security and National Solidarity’s national policy, known as Ageing with Dignity, which was launched in 2001. The Basic Old Age Pension, along with the contributory pension schemes now under this policy, represent an integrated approach to income security for older persons and create part of Mauritius’s social protection floor.
Further Reading:
Larry Willmore (2003). Universal Pension in Mauritius, Lessons for the Rest of Us. United Nations DESA, New York. Accessed from http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UN/UNPAN009128.pdf on December 2016.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (2012). Country Profile: Mauritius. Accessed from http://www.oecd.org/finance/private-pensions/42052117.pdf PAGE 20 on 27 November 2013.
The World Bank Group (2004). Mauritius Modernizing an Advanced Pension System (Report Number 29588-MU). Accessed from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/343711468774670616/pdf/295880MU.pdf on December 2016.