Artisanal Fishers to Benefit from New Voluntary Pension Scheme in April
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Artisanal fishers in Seychelles will be able to contribute towards a new pension scheme with the Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF) on a voluntary basis from April 1, 2025. The scheme, which was initially announced by Minister for Finance, National Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan, during the 2025 national budget presentation, has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of the ministry, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) and the European Union.
The scheme aims to extend pension coverage to a long-overlooked sector of the economy. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-François Ferrari, said the initiative recognises the contribution of artisanal fishers to the food security and economic well-being of the country, and offers them a path to financial security in retirement that was previously unavailable.
The CEO of SFA, Jan Robinson, said the scheme has been designed to suit the seasonal income patterns of artisanal fishers, allowing flexible contributions during peak fishing seasons. The CEO of SPF, Nisreen Abdul-Majid, said the scheme is open to fishers aged 18 to 60, with full details on contribution rates and benefits to be published in the coming weeks.
