Old-age pension

Entitlement to an old-age pension is determined by two factors:

• The age of the insured person, who must reach the statutory age limit set according to their status,
• The length of insurance required to build up a fund to cover social security benefits.

In Mali, an old-age pension is guaranteed to insured persons aged 58 who have made contributions for 13 years.

In accordance with the provisions of Law No. 2019-025 of 5 July 2019, the retirement age is set as follows

• For employees of public administrative bodies (EPA), public scientific, technological or cultural bodies (EPSTC), public hospitals (EPH), public social welfare bodies (EPS) and public industrial and commercial bodies (EPIC)
• Category A: 65 years of age,
• Category B: 62 years
• Categories C, D & E: 58 years

• For contract workers employed by the State and local authorities
• Category A or equivalent: 60 years
• Categories B, C, D & E or equivalent: 58 years of age.

• For employees or those covered by collective agreements in the private sector
• Category A or equivalent: 60 years
• Categories B, C, D & E: 58 years of age.

For private-sector employees classified in Category A or equivalent, the employment relationship may continue, by mutual agreement, for a period not exceeding the employee’s 62nd birthday.

For private-sector employees classified in categories B, C, D and E, the employment relationship may continue, by mutual agreement, for a period not exceeding the employee’s 60th birthday.

However, this voluntary extension does not entitle the employee to the accumulation of pensionable service.

 Retiring an employee 

An employer may wish to retire an employee who has reached the age limit. This measure does not constitute dismissal.

However, on the date of the employee’s departure from the company, the employer is obliged to pay them a retirement severance payment calculated in the same way as a redundancy payment, and compensation for unused paid annual leave.

The employer must also notify the INPS, which will take the necessary steps to process the employee’s pension. 

Eligibility for a retirement pension 

Entitlement to a retirement pension is subject to 13 years’ contributions to the INPS, whether continuous or not. Beyond 13 years of contributions, a 2 per cent increase is granted to the beneficiary for each additional year. The pension is paid monthly.

However, employees of EPAs and EPICs who have reached the ages of 59, 56 and 55 respectively for categories A and B, C, D and E may apply to have their retirement pension paid out (early retirement).

In such cases, the retirement pension will be subject to a 5 per cent reduction for each year of early retirement.

Private-sector employees and contract staff of the State and local authorities who have reached the age of 57 for category A, and 55 for the other categories (B, C, D and E),  may also apply to have their retirement pension paid out (early retirement).

NB: Retirement from the age of 62, 59, 57, 56 or 55, as applicable, at the employee’s initiative, does not constitute resignation.

Recruiting a pensioner 

It is prohibited to employ as a salaried worker someone who has legally retired, as a pension cannot legally be combined with salary income subject to INPS contributions.

Key terminology

Employee’s contribution: this is the contribution that the employee pays from their salary each month, which entitles them to their pension. The rate is 3.6% of their gross salary.

Employer’s contribution: this is the contribution paid by the employer to cover the risks of accidents or occupational diseases, family benefits and a portion of the pension scheme.

The rate varies from 15.4% to 18.4% of the employee’s gross salary, as the contribution rate for the occupational accidents and illnesses scheme ranges from 1% to 4% depending on the employer’s sector of activity.

Social security card: this is the registration card issued to an employee by the INPS to confirm their registration. The card shows their membership number and the actual date of registration.

Pension assessment: this is the process by which the INPS determines the extent of an employee’s pension entitlements.