December 2023

US. First LAX Strikes in 20 Years Pose Potential Fiduciary Risk for Public Pension Funds

Last week, hundreds of workers employed by PAI Partners-owned concessionaire, Areas USA, walked out on strike at Los Angeles International Airport, following workers’ first strike on November 21. PAI Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Paris, France. Workers’ decision to strike during the busy holiday season came after Areas has failed to agree to wage increases workers need to afford the soaring cost of housing in the Los Angeles area. "My coworkers and I are on strike because...

Nigeria. Pension coverage: Micro pension’s impact on informal sector (Part 1)

The Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is a vital initiative empowering individuals to secure their financial well-being in old age. Tailored initially for formal sector employees, the CPS was extended to include informal sector workers following the Pension Reform Act (PRA) amendment in 2014. Guided by the provisions of the PRA 2014, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) introduced the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) with the specific objective of broadening pension coverage to include workers in the informal sector. Under the MPP,...

New EU gig worker rules will decide who should get benefits for full-time workers

In a bid to improve working conditions for people delivering food and offering rides through smartphone apps, the European Union on Wednesday gave temporary approval to rules that stipulate that Who should get the benefits of full-time employees and restrict online avenues? Platforms use algorithms to manage their employees. The European Parliament and the 27 EU member states agreed on a platform worker directive that took years to create. It aims to boost protections and benefits for the growing number...

Developed Nations’ Public Pension Plans Dropped By Average of 15% in 2022

How bad was 2022’s market slide that hurt pension public pension plans in developed nations? Bad: They showed losses of about 15% on average, according to figures from an annual study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The arrival of higher interest rates and inflation, as the world struggled out of the COVID-19 pandemic, led to significant losses in asset values in OECD countries, the report showed. Losses ranged from 21% in the U.K. and 18% in the Netherlands to 9% in...

US. Study finds healthier funding status for DB plans raising interest in LDI strategy reviews

U.S.-based defined benefit pension plan sponsors are increasingly looking to assess their liability-driven investment strategies as they reach fully funded statuses, according to a new study by Coalition Greenwich and commissioned by Franklin Templeton. The study found nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of pension plan sponsors reported funding ratios of 100 per cent or higher, while the rest had funding ratios above 110 per cent. Roughly half of respondents said they’re concerned about “substantial overlap in holdings” among their LDI...

UK. Govt urged to adopt new policies to take advantage of increased longevity

A new government should introduce a range of new policies on retirement, health and social care, to release a potential “longevity dividend” worth half a trillion pounds, as well as deliver a range of social benefits, according to the International Longevity Centre (ILC). Policies outlined in its new white paper include an auto-enrolment (AE) savings scheme to run alongside AE pensions, auto-escalation of minimum AE contributions, and ideas to help self-employed and gig economy workers save for retirement. Other ideas floated...

This is what Canada will look like in 20 years – are we ready for an aging population?

The rapid growth expected among Canada’s senior population in the coming years is one of the “most significant demographic trends” in the country’s history, says demographer Doug Norris. While this growth may present some challenges for younger generations, industry experts say it will also offer opportunities to pave the way for a better future. Residents aged 65 and older are part of the fastest-growing age group in Canada today, said Norris, who is chief demographer at Environics Analytics, a marketing...

U.S. pension funds heavily invested in China despite crackdown

U.S. proposals to clamp down on investments in China may be being undermined by continued funding from some of America's biggest institutional investors, new analysis shows. The majority of U.S. public pensions, as well certain universities and non-profit organizations, have committed funds to China and Hong Kong, including in sensitive technologies — some as recently as this year, according to a report by Future Union, a non-partisan trade organization. The 74 largest contributors have allocated more than $70 billion to companies...

U.K. Pensions Regulator updates cyber-risk guidance

U.K. pension trustees should be vigilant about cybersecurity and report significant events, The Pensions Regulator said in updated guidance released Dec. 11. "Pension schemes are at risk of being targeted by cyber-attacks because of the large amounts of personal data and assets they hold," TPR said in a release, saying the guidance will help trustees and plan managers as well as suppliers and advisers. The latest guidance calls on trustees and providers to report significant cyber incidents to help it build a better...

The new longevity: Stanford center examines societal impacts of a population living longer

BY 2030, ONE in four Californians will be 60 years or older. By 2060, the percent of Californians in the 60+ age group will have increased three times faster than the total population. People are living longer than ever. Worldwide, the average life expectancy of a newborn has more than doubled since 1900, from 32 years to 71 years. Half of 5-year-olds in the United States today will likely live for 100 years or more. The Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL)’s mission is to...