INCREASED benefits will now flow to the dependents of government pensioners, who die from injuries while on the job or from diseases associated with their trade.

The Senate yesterday passed three bills aimed at bringing the payments to these dependents in line with those recently granted to Special Constables.

The three bills, which are connected, include An Act to Amend the Pensions Act; An Act to Amend the Pensions (Teachers) Act; and An Act to Amend the Pensions (Parochial Officers) Act.

The bills were passed with the understanding that there could be additional beneficiaries flowing from the passage of the Family Property (Rights of Spouses) Act and the Maintenance Act now before a Joint Select Committee.

The passage of the latter bills could expand the range of beneficiaries of government pensions to include unmarried spouses and children born out of wedlock. However, no amendment was introduced yesterday on the grounds that it would be premature of the Senate to introduce this without the Ministry of Finance and Planning having worked out the additional cost implications.

Opposition members, however, balked at the prospect of this, maintaining that the Government should have worked out the full implications of the move, including cost, before tabling the legislation.

They also opposed the clause whereby benefits would come into effect seven-years after the injury, in the case of deaths from injuries, as well as the fact that it made no provisions for adopted children.

The amendment to the Pensions Act, which is retroactive to July 1, 1974, enhances the gratuity payable to the dependents of public officers who died as a result of injuries or disease attributable to their jobs.

The amendment to the Pensions Teachers Act and the Parochial Officers Pensions Act, specifically enhances the gratuities payable to the dependents of teachers and employees of parish councils who die as a result of injuries or disease attributable to their jobs.

Government Senator Noel Monteith pointed to the risks faced by teachers over the years, some related to professional hazards, such as chemistry teachers being exposed to harmful chemicals and even exposure to asbestos, once used in the construction of school buildings as a fire retardant, before it was discovered to be cancerous.

The passage of the bills raises the amount payable to up to $4 million or the aggregate of one year’s pensionable salary of the officer at the date of death, plus the amount of commuted pension gratuity for which he/her would have been eligible if he/she had retired at the date of his/her death.

The bills were passed by a vote of eight government to four opposition, with one opposition abstention.

Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Burchell Whiteman, also opened the debate on the National Health Fund (NHF).

The bill provides for the introduction of a contributory health insurance scheme for the benefit of all Jamaican residents and the financing of the Fund.