February 2025

UK. MPs approve £6.9bn hike in spending on pensions and benefits

MPs today approved a £6.9billion hike in spending on state pensions and benefits from April. Orders supported by the House of Commons included a 4.1 per cent increase to the state pension under the terms of the 'triple lock'. This ensures payments rise each April in line with whichever is highest out of average earnings growth, inflation or 2.5 per cent. The increase for 2025/26 was pegged to wages, which rose by 4.1 per cent in the relevant period last year. It means, from...

Youth Climate Council Ghana rejects Parliament’s plan to use carbon funds for MPs’ pensions

The Youth Climate Council Ghana (YCC) has strongly condemned a recent proposal by Parliament to fund Members of Parliament’s (MPs) pension schemes using revenue from the country’s carbon credit market. The youth-led organisation has labelled the move as a direct violation of Ghana’s climate commitments and a dangerous misallocation of resources meant for sustainability initiatives. It has therefore asked Parliament to revoke the proposal and prioritise long-term environmental and economic sustainability over short-term political convenience. According to YCC, diverting carbon finance...

Study reveals health and economic impact of air pollution in aging societies

Air pollution is a growing health issue worldwide, and its impacts are often underestimated in aging societies like Japan. A new study led by researchers from the University of Tokyo highlights how fine particulate pollution, or PM2.5, not only worsens health outcomes, but also creates significant socioeconomic challenges in regions with aging populations and limited medical resources. The researchers hope these findings motivate policymakers to tackle the interrelated issues behind this problem. PM2.5 refers to microscopic particles of pollution small...

Cómo se distribuye el ahorro para el retiro de los mexicanos.

El ahorro que se destina a tu afore está integrado por diversas subcuentas, cada una con funciones específicas. Entender cómo funciona cada una de ellas es esencial para optimizar tu ahorro y sacar el máximo provecho de tu cuenta Individual. Cabe señalar que estas subcuentas no solo concentran tu ahorro a largo plazo, sino que también incluyen aportaciones destinadas a beneficios importantes como vivienda y seguros. “Comprender cómo funcionan las subcuentas de tu Afore es fundamental para lograr un mejor control de tus finanzas,...

Chile. “No+AFP” y “Con mi plata no” enjuician la reforma de pensiones del gobierno

Hay dos movimientos que han pedido cambios al sistema de pensiones del país que han tenido incidencia pública en los últimos años. El que nació primero fue “No+AFP”, que tomó fuerza luego de que miles de personas se reunieron en las calles de distintas ciudades a lo largo de Chile el domingo 24 de julio de 2016 para protestar contra el sistema de pensiones bajo esa consigna. El movimiento pedía un sistema de reparto, solidario, tripartito y administrado por...

Colombia. ¿Qué mejora y qué se complica en el país con la llegada de la reforma pensional?

El país se encuentra actualmente a la espera de la decisión que tomará la Corte Constitucional frente a si la reforma pensional avalada en el Senado y la Cámara el año pasado cumple con todos los requisitos para ser ley o si niega su entrada en vigencia, en respuesta a las demandas que se interpusieron en contra de esta norma. Si decide negar la entrada en vigencia de la reforma, el alto tribunal tiene dos caminos. Por un lado, puede tumbar...

Argentina. El Gobierno anunció que se auditarán más de un millón de las pensiones otorgadas por invalidez laboral

La Agencia Nacional de Discapacidad (ANDIS) y el Instituto Nacional de Servicios Sociales para Jubilados y Pensionados (PAMI) comenzarán este mes a auditar 1.013.400 casos de Pensiones No Contributivas por Invalidez Laboral (PNCIL). Según informó el Gobierno, la medida el propósito es “darle mayor transparencia al sistema para que las pensiones sean otorgadas únicamente a quienes cumplan con los criterios establecidos en la normativa vigente y efectivamente las necesiten”. El control, paso a paso El proceso se realizará de modo “escalonado y...

US. DOL’s New Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database Goes Live

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has officially launched its Retirement Savings Lost and Found database. Although the database is not complete, DOL will continue to make improvements over the next several months. DOL needs ongoing assistance and participation from plan administrators to get information on plan participants who have left their places of employment. While submission of this information by plan administrators is voluntary, DOL hopes to receive sufficient information to create the most effective database possible. Plan administrators...

UK. Pension trustees urged not to ‘lose sight’ of urgency of climate issues

Pension scheme trustees should not lose sight of the urgency of climate change, the Trustee Sustainability Working Group (TSWG) has said, encouraging trustees not to use recent changes in international priorities as a reason to move climate issues off their agenda. The TSWG, launched in December, also encouraged the consulting community and investment manager community to move beyond a focus on emissions to consider the financial risks inherent in a world that does not transition. However, it suggested that innovation is...

US. Illinois’ economic future pressured by worst pension crisis in nation

The urgency and severity of Illinois’ pension crisis is undeniable when compared to the rest of the nation. Reports from the Equable Institute found Illinois lags in both pension funding and performance compared to other states at the end of fiscal year 2024. If the state fails to fix its pension issues, the budget will continue to be strained, people will continue leaving the state and future pension benefits could be at risk. Preserving the cost savings of Tier 2, offering retirement choice...