Director of Pension Agency announces resignation, says he will 'pray for the reform'
By Levan Abramishvili
Tuesday, December 10
“A week ago I asked the Supervisory Board if I could leave my position beginning 16 January. The Supervisory Board will consider this request and make a decision,” Surguladze said.
According to him, if the Board decides that he should remain in office for some time, he will take into account the opinion. He did not elaborate on the reasoning behind his resignation, claiming he had 'other plans' that he will reveal later.
Before the announcement, he also summarized the results of his one-year work at the Pension Agency and repeatedly stressed that the agency was already 'working properly.'
Answering the question if his decision will undermine public confidence in the accumulative pension reform, he said that because fewer people left the scheme then expected there already exists significant trust in the reform and the Agency.
“Initially many questions were raised regarding the reform. Our agency has worked a lot and very well, and today this negative attitude is somehow reversed. Far fewer people left the pension scheme than anyone expected. Consequently, we have gained this public confidence to some extent,” said Surguladze. He also declared moral support for his team. “Reform is going well and it will continue to be successful, I am sure, I will always pray for it. I'll be on my team's side,” added Surguladze.
According to Surguladze, 60,000 companies are involved in the reform. 943,113 people remain in the scheme and 163,000 people have used their right to leave it, which is less than the Agency initially expected. The amount of accumulated money in the system is GEL 461 million. He reassured the public that the Pension Agency is operating smoothly, and all of its functions are working properly, without any delays.
the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava has responded to Surguladze’s decision by saying that people come and go, and one professional can be replaced by others and that the success of the reform is not dependent upon individual staff members.
To Turnava’s knowledge, Surguladze wants to venture into the private sector.
“Thanks to Levan Surguladze, among others, the first phase of our pension reform is very successful. We will discuss his decision, meet, talk and take the necessary decisions for the success of the reform,” noted Turnava.
Surguladze was appointed as the director of the Pension Agency last September.
Through competition, the Supervisory Board appoints and dismisses the Pension Agency's director who oversees the operations of the Agency. The director is appointed for a term of 5 years.
The new scheme, which was adopted by Parliament last year, came into force on 1 January 2019. The accrued pension scheme is open to all working or self-employed Georgian citizens and foreign nationals permanently residing in Georgia.
Participation in the pension scheme is mandatory for all employed citizens of Georgia and permanently resident foreign nationals, who as of August 6, 2018, had not yet turned 40.
It was also compulsory for workers aged 40 and over to enter the system, but they were allowed to leave the scheme from April 1 to June 1, 2019.