July 2019

01Jul

India.Denied pensions for six years, nearly 200,000 senior citizens in Delhi are forced to work again

Kamru Jamaal’s life would be easier if he got the monthly pension of Rs 1,000 that New Delhi’s municipal corporations are supposed to pay their poor senior citizens. At 73, he makes a living driving a cycle-rickshaw on the streets of North Delhi’s Kingsway Camp area.“I can’t remember how long I haven’t been paid a pension,” said Jamaal, who migrated to Delhi from Bihar’s Supaul district decades ago in search of a livelihood.The money would have also allowed Ram...

July 1, 2019
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01Jul

The financial inclusion balancing act

Libra, the wildly ambitious and probably doomed Facebook-backed cryptocurrency, is innovative in many different ways. But there's one part of it that's deeply familiar — the way in which it sells itself as a way of bringing millions of people into the global financial system.The big question: Can the private sector, and technology companies in particular, bring critical financial services to those who have been excluded from the global financial system?Most fintech startups espouse two lofty goals: disrupting the banks and serving...

July 1, 2019
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01Jul

Europe’s population is aging rapidly. Here’s how to turn that into an opportunity

Ahead of this weekend's G20 summit in Japan, an elderly idol group called Obachaaan released a music video welcoming the new visitors to their city, Osaka.The energetic seniors dance and rap through the port city in the slapstick rap-style video, called "Oba Funk Osaka" -- which charmed at least one world leader."Like Japan, Singapore too has an aging population," Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote in a Facebook post in reference to the demographic issue being on the global agenda at the G20 for...

July 1, 2019
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June 2019

28Jun

Lebanon’s retired military personnel protest over cuts in benefits

Military veterans held demonstrations Thursday by blocking roads and burning tires in several Lebanese areas to protest over the 2019 state budget which cut their pensions and retirement benefits, the National News Agency reported. Protests began at 5 a.m. in the morning and ended at 9 a.m. following a statement by the Lebanese army calling on the protesters to open roads while emphasizing their solidarity with retired military army and their rights. Meanwhile, retired military personnel issued a statement...

June 28, 2019
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28Jun

Fintech pension provider eyes US market

Workplace pension provider Smart Pension is looking to move into the US market in response to overseas interest in its retirement services. Company officials are currently taking part in a UK fintech delegation to Chicago, led by Peter Estlin, Lord Mayor of the City of London, which includes financial services companies such as Revolut and Worldpay. FTAdviser reported in April that the provider was chosen by the government to participate in a fintech bridge pilot programme in Australia. The...

June 28, 2019
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28Jun

Ukraine. Cabinet Decides To Raise Pensions To UAH 2,000 For Women With Seniority Of More Than 30 Years And Men With Seniority Of More Than 35 Years From July

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted the relevant resolution at a meeting on Wednesday, Ukrainian News Agency reports. In particular, the Cabinet of Ministers determined that from July 1, if the monthly amount of pension payments, taking into account the allowances provided by law, cash assistance, indexation and other allowances (except for pensions for special services to Ukraine) for pensioners with sufficient insurance period, does not reach UAH 2,000, so such pensioners will be paid extra to the pension in...

June 28, 2019
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28Jun

Canada. A new paradigm for pension plans

The single-employer pension plan model is dying. We do not need to mourn its demise, but we do need to replace it. In a recent report published by the C.D. Howe Institute, we promote the implementation of new private-sector pension plans in Canada based on a better governance model. Rather than being sponsored by single employers, the new plans would be sponsored by multiple employers and governed by independent management boards that include representation from all stakeholders. Scale is...

June 28, 2019
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28Jun

UK. Government denied pensions case appeal

The Supreme Court has today (June 27) refused the government’s application to appeal a court case which ruled changes made to judges and firefighters pension schemes were discriminatory. According to the Fire Brigades Union this was the last legal hurdle in the dispute, leaving the government with no further avenue to exhaust. Elizabeth Truss, chief secretary to HM Treasury, revealed in January that if the government lost it could cost around £4bn a year if extended to all applicable...

June 28, 2019
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27Jun

Portugal. Social security grants 26,000 early-retirement pensions

Very long contributive careers – of people who began working while still very young – accounted for more than half of the total early retirements being approved in 2018, with 26,389 pensions being granted, according to data unveiled by the minister, José Vieira da Silva, at a regular hearing of parliament’s committee on employment and social security. This year, the normal retirement age is 66 years and five months; at a lower age, early retirement may be requested for...

June 27, 2019
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27Jun

Brazilian real falls on economy worries, dollar lifts other Latam forex

The Brazilian real dipped on Tuesday on worries about the country's economy and pension reform plans, while other Latin American currencies rose against a weaker dollar. The Brazilian real edged lower for a second day, while the Mexican peso hovered near two-week lows even as the greenback touch new lows against a basket of major currencies. FRX/ Minutes from the Brazilian central bank's June policy meeting showed the economy is stagnating and uncertainty surrounding economic and fiscal reforms is...

June 27, 2019
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