This week, pensioners represented by the Old-age Workers’ Welfare Association held a protest demanding accountability for corruption in the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution and for an increase in pensions. This is just one in a spate of post-pandemic protests by government workers across the country this year, spurred by demands for pay raises and benefits, increases in pensions and the corruption and inefficiency in institutions like the EOBI. Since many government workers were essential and could not work from home during the pandemic, putting themselves and their families at risk to do their jobs, their demands should be taken seriously.

Although we have seen plenty of public protests and movements from labour unions recently, the case of the pensioners is particularly heart rending. These senior citizens are forced to spend their golden years visiting pension offices endlessly and demonstrating about the difficulties they face in getting their dues rather than being able to retire in peace, a right that they had believed a lifetime as a public servant guaranteed them.