October 2017

09Oct

US. Ballot measure would strip pensions from corrupt lawmakers

For years, New York lawmakers convicted of abusing their power and sent off to prison had at least one thing to look forward to: a generous state pension. That practice could come to an end in November when voters will be asked whether to change the state constitution to authorize judges to strip pensions from corrupt politicians. Top lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo have argued the change will act as a powerful deterrent in a state where 30 state...

October 9, 2017
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09Oct

South Africa’s Fedusa wants to review PIC investments

South African labour federation Fedusa said on Saturday it would consult rival federations over withdrawing an investment mandate the workers’ pension fund has with one of the continent’s largest asset managers, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). The PIC manages South African government employee retirement funds and has been in the spotlight recently after reports the finance ministry requested money from the pension fund to bail out struggling state firms. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has denied making such a request. Gigaba on...

October 9, 2017
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09Oct

Spain. Blocked reforms

he Spanish economy has two very serious problems: signing of a wage agreement, which allows recovery of some of purchasing power in medium term, and a solution to reform pension system. Social agents (businessmen and trade unions) have shown a frustrating inability to reach a wage pact in 2017; It would be very dangerous for economic and social stability that agreement would also fail for 2018, because wage-earning policy cannot remain dissociated from reactivation. The recent agreement in Balearic...

October 9, 2017
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06Oct

South Africa’s Gigaba wants concerns over irregularities at state pension fund probed

South Africa Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Friday asked government pension fund Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to investigate concerns of irregularities at the asset manager to ensure transparency at the institutions. The PIC has been in the spotlight in recent weeks after reports that the finance ministry had requested money from the pension fund to bail out struggling state firms. Gigaba has denied making such a request. “We need to assure pension holders that those with political or economic power will...

October 6, 2017
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06Oct

UK. Post workers announce 48-hour strike in first national walkout since privatisation

Postal workers will walkout on a 48-hour strike later this month in the first national stoppage since the Royal Mail was privatised four years ago. The strike, involving 111,000 postal workers, will start at 11am on Thursday October 19 in a bitter dispute over pensions, pay and jobs. The strike announcement follows a strike ballot backed by a massive 89% on a turnout of 73% - well above the turnout threshold of 50% set last year by the Tory’s controversial Trade...

October 6, 2017
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06Oct

Exiled Jammeh’s private company owes pension fund over $35m: Gambia inquiry

Abdoulie Cham told the commission of inquiry chaired by Sourahata Janneh that the Kanilai Group International (KGI), registered in the name of the former president, owes the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) D 1.7 billion (US$ 35.9 million). He said the money was given out as loans and withdrawn from several accounts including the national provident fund after an instruction by Jammeh who was then the president, local media report. Besides KGI, some parastatals and companies including The Gambia Radio...

October 6, 2017
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05Oct

Brazil intervenes in fraud-hit Postalis pension fund

Brazil’s pension oversight body Previc ordered a 180-day intervention in Postalis Instituto de Previdência Complementar, the pension fund for post office workers, for breaking rules on reserve requirements and investments, the regulator said on Wednesday. Postalis, Brazil’s largest fund by number of participants, has amassed billions of reais in losses over the past decade due to risky bets and has run a deficit every year since 2011. Prosecutors in May charged eight people, including the fund’s former president, with tax...

October 5, 2017
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05Oct

Canada’s Pension Funds Are Piling on Leverage, Moody’s Warns

Canada’s public pension funds, among the biggest in the world, are piling on risk with leveraged bets in a chase for higher returns, Moody’s Investors Service warns. The nation’s six biggest pension funds have increased their average leverage to 24 percent, from 19 percent in 2009, in an effort to offset the impact of declining pension member contributions and low interest rates on their cash flow and investment returns, Moody’s said in an Oct. 3 report written by analyst Jason...

October 5, 2017
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04Oct

Ukraine parliament approves heavily amended pension reform

The Ukrainian parliament approved pension reforms on Tuesday aimed at easing pressure from a pensions deficit of more than $5 billion while also raising the minimum pension. Passing laws to put the buckling pension system on a sustainable footing is a key requirement for the next loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund. But last week a senior World Bank official said the bank and the IMF were concerned about the hundreds of amendments that have been added to the...

October 4, 2017
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04Oct

Rwanda. Your pension will never be enough

An important consideration in planning for retirement is the level of income you will need and where the income will come from. Most people have unrealistic expectations as to the level of pension they will receive in retirement. This explains why in Rwanda today many mumble at the benefits paid by Rwanda Social Security Board. The RSSB pension arrangement is defined benefit and you can know at onset the level of pension benefits you may receive at any time should...

October 4, 2017
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