Pension Regulations

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 9 October 2009

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Most countries are implementing or trying to change their pension regulations substantially. For many companies, contributing to pension funds has become a serious problem. Even employees are concerned about the pension plans and want a change. The US and UK are considering sweeping changes in their pension regulations. In May 2009, the Chief of the UK pension regulator announced that employers should undertake due diligence while considering actions that would affect employee pension. Further, he said that the pension regulator’s aim is to ensure higher standards in the Defined Contribution pension schemes.

Pension Regulations in the UK

In the UK, companies were historically allowed to take a long term approach to their pension fund investments. Now companies have to take a long term approach in order to protect both employees and pension fund trustees. Companies are forced to announce and fix problems that were caused by short-term investment fluctuation and recession. The pension industry is facing a lot of funding issues and many companies are worried that pension problems would make their survival difficult.

Most employers and employees in the UK believe that the existing pension regulations should be reviewed and timescales reconsidered. Since many pension fund companies crashed recently, the government is taking a cautious approach towards pension regulations and recommends that companies take a short-term approach.

In January 2009, Tesco asked the British government to make major changes in the pension regulations. It asked the UK government to allow reduced payouts to employees, given the serious issues related to the crash of the UK stock market and the pension industry.

Companies are tested to the maximum when it comes to their ability to contribute to pension funds. Most pension industry observers believe that the government should come up with plans to balance the impact on employees and employers.

Pension Regulations in Canada 

Canada has also proposed significant changes in its pension regulations. According to a plan announced by the Canadian government, a pension committee will be established and employees will have the right to appoint committee members. This would help employers to have a substantial representation in the Committee.

Governments across the world are taking a cautious approach to pension regulations due to the recession. However, the governments believe that neither the employers not the employees should suffer due to the huge debts accumulated by several large corporations in relation to pension contributions.


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