January 2020

United Arab Emirates: The Introduction Of The DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Plan And Other Qualifying Schemes

the DIFC Authority is replacing the existing arrangement of statutory end of service gratuity, payable on termination of employment, with a defined contribution savings scheme, in which contributions are made monthly into a scheme (the Qualifying Scheme). The Qualifying Scheme which is being supported by the DIFC Authority is the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings plan (DEWS). However, employers may choose to use a Qualifying Alternative Scheme (QAS). The laws implementing the new arrangements, through amendments to DIFC Law No....

Nigeria’s pension industry squeezed as risk outlook for banks worsens

The Nigerian central bank’s directive that the country’s lenders must have a minimum 65% loan-to-deposit ratio by March will be credit negative as the banks are pushed towards making riskier loans, Moody’s said on 13 January. Loans will need to grow by about 5% from the end of October to meet the new rules, Moody’s says. Pension funds cannot place money with banks rated below investment grade, meaning that pension assets are concentrated in 10 or 11 banks, says...

Managing UK pensions risk: new Pensions Regulator powers and criminal offences

Following the general election, the government has reintroduced the Pension Schemes Bill (the ‘Bill’) into Parliament. The Bill includes a number of provisions which will significantly impact corporate activity involving groups with a UK defined benefit pension scheme. Two new criminal offences of ‘risking accrued scheme benefits’ and ‘avoidance of employer debt’ are proposed, each carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. The circumstances in which the Pensions Regulator (the 'Regulator') can make connected third parties (such...

Strike against pension reform not to have severe impact on French economy: minister

Rolling train and metro stoppages and nationwide street rallies would not pose serious challenge to France's economy which has preserved its attractiveness despite a social tense climate, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday. Asked by CNews television whether growth of the eurozone's second key powerhouse would be affected by unions' industrial action to oppose a pension overhaul, Le Maire said: "I don't think the strike will cost France dear." "I don't think that it...

Chile. Las AFP reaccionan a propuesta de la oposición de fondo colectivo: Subiría las pensiones actuales, pero no las del futuro

El gerente general de las asociación de AFP, Fernando Larraín, no ve con buenos ojos una cotización adicional que se destine a un fondo contributivo y que se sostenga a lo largo del tiempo. A su juicio, tendría solo un aumento en las pensiones actuales, pero no en las de las próximas generaciones, por la tendencia de crecimiento y envejecimiento que tendrá el país. Larraín, en conversación con Radio Pauta, apuntó que “lo que va a hacer es que...

Greek Authorities to Raise Pensions after Years of Cutbacks

A new bill submitted to parliament in January envisages new increase in pensions for pensioners in Greece. Pension increases will range from 3% to 10% and affect pensioners who have more than 30 years of insurance coverage. The supplementary pensions for the freelancers and farmers will also increase by up to 48%. The new social security reform should increase all pensions, which have been reduced to 1300 euros. The average increase will be with about of 99.5 euros. Read...

Occupational pension system enforced in Romania as of February

The Law on Occupational Pensions will enter into force in Romania on February 7, Adevarul daily announced. The provisions of Law 1/2020 indicate how much money the employers and employees can contribute to such funds (Pillar IV) on a monthly basis, the daily commented. Specifically, Law 1/2020 stipulates that the employer decides whether or not to propose to the employee an occupational pension scheme. This has to be included in the employment contract. Then, the employer will sign a...

US. The Secure Act is exposing the ugly truth about people’s hatred of paying taxes

We want a society where we have safe roads, low crime, good public schools and, for times when people fall short financially, a safety net. Our taxes support Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which we know have kept millions of seniors out of poverty. Fifty-seven percent of retirees say Social Security is their major source of income, according to a 2019 Gallup poll. But the ugly truth about taxes is that many people hate giving up income to provide...

Canada. Fusion Pharmaceuticals Announces Investment from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)

Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing next-generation radiopharmaceuticals, today announced an investment commitment of up to US$20 million from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). CPPIB joins Fusion’s existing group of top-tier investors adding to the US$105 million Series B announced in April 2019. The financing will primarily be used to expand the use of the Company’s Fast-Clear™ Linker Technology platform by investing in new partnerships and targeting molecules to create novel targeted alpha therapeutics, and...

Nigerian Governors should publish payment details of their pensions since 1999, SERAP ask court

Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court, Abuja to order the 36 state governors in Nigeria to “publish details and breakdown of payment of pensions to each of the former governors and other ex-officials, and the names and number of ex-governors and other officials receiving pensions under their respective State pension laws between 1999 and 2019.” Read Also Nigeria’s pension industry squeezed as risk outlook for banks worsens In the suit filed...