Regional Government defends fair retirement age for Azoreans - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The draft law proposed by the Regional Government to ensure the full constitutional right to social security in old age was approved today at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

"Azoreans cannot be disproportionate funders of the social security system," defended the Vice-President of the Government. In this regard, he stressed that the aim is not to “promote inequality or arbitrarily benefit Azoreans” but to “ensure equal access to retirement” in the Region.

Recalling that the proposal is a commitment of the XIV Regional Government of the Azores, Artur Lima drew attention to the "average life expectancy consistently and demonstrably below the national average." In addition, Azoreans contribute "the same number of years and on the same terms as the general population."

The principles of equality, social equity and positive differentiation enshrined in the Social Security Framework Law "provide a solid foundation" to this proposal, he said.

The "life contexts of the Azoreans" should also serve as a basis for assessing and understanding this proposal, the Vice-President of the Government stated, pointing out that they live in "a geographically dispersed archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic and on the outermost edge of Europe."

The Portuguese state "has recognised these difficulties and the additional costs inherent to our remoteness," he continued, listing as examples the social mobility aid, the special quota for Azorean students to enter higher education and tax differentiation.

According to Artur Lima, this initiative" helps people to live in the Azores" and ensures "a better quality of life in ageing." Its approval by the National Assembly would represent "another historic autonomic achievement," he concluded.

The law would result in old-age pensions being granted in the Azores in 2025 at 64 years and two months, instead of 66 years and seven months currently in force at a national level. It would consider as beneficiaries those who have cumulatively resided in the Azores for, at least, 30 years and have, at least, two-thirds of their social security contributions recorded in the Region. The preliminary draft law proposed by the Regional Government, recently approved by the Regional Parliament, will be submitted as a draft law to the National Parliament.