June 2020

Japan. Relieve non-regular workers’ anxiety through reform of pension system

By The Japan News Editorial There is great significance in improving the foundation of the quality of life in old age for part-timers and other non-regular workers. Laws related to pension system reform have been passed. The range of people eligible for employee pensions will be expanded to include short-term workers from companies with fewer employees. Read also India. Modifications in National Pension Scheme financially untenable: Finance Ministry Currently, companies are required to join the employee pension program if they meet the...

May 2020

Retirement Reforms: Occupational Strain and Health

By Kantha Dayaram, Alistair McGuire A concurrent increase in the demand for state age pensions and health care has led to reforms in delaying retirement. We employ thirteen waves of longitudinal data to examine the mental and physical health effects of Australian men and women at “early” and “traditional” retirement. We use before and after propensity score matching (PSM) estimates between treatment and control groups of retired and not retired individuals aged 60 and 65 years. The results indicate...

Peru takes another stab at major pension reform as AFP bill forced through

Peru’s government has submitted a bill for urgent consideration that establishes a special commission tasked with proposing ways to improve the country’s private and public pension systems. The commission will look at areas such as sustainability, pension size, coverage and demographics. President Martín Vizcarra (pictured) has previously called for an overhaul. Read also OECD pension chief says reforms must continue, urges crisis policy caution The body will comprise representatives of congress, the executive, the central bank and financial services...

April 2020

OECD pension chief says reforms must continue, urges crisis policy caution

Global pension reform initiatives that got underway prior to the coronavirus outbreak must continue – but implementation needs careful reconsideration. That, along with concerns over the potential long-term impact of pension freedom and contribution relief measures, was among the key points raised during a webinar hosted by industry organisation the International Federations of Pension Funds Administrators (FIAP). Chile – which has a defined-contribution, or private scheme, and a solidarity pillar – is among those that have embarked along the...

OECD pension chief says reforms must continue, urges crisis policy caution

Global pension reform initiatives that got underway prior to the coronavirus outbreak must continue – but implementation needs careful reconsideration. That, along with concerns over the potential long-term impact of pension freedom and contribution relief measures, was among the key points raised during a webinar hosted by industry organisation the International Federations of Pension Funds Administrators (FIAP). Chile – which has a defined-contribution, or private scheme, and a solidarity pillar – is among those that have embarked along the...

March 2020

France. Macron Suspended Pension Reform and Delayed Second Round of Elections

France will be quarantined by noon on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement to the nation broadcast by the Elysee Palace. All residents are ordered to stay home and will only be able to leave their homes for substantial reasons. People's movement will be very restricted, Macron said. "We are at war," the French president repeatedly said. Macron announced a number of measures that put France in a martial law to combat the virus. Here are...

France. Macron’s pension reform survives two confidence votes

French President Emmanuel Macron's government has defeated not just one but two no-confidence votes, allowing it to force an overhaul of the retirement system through the lower house of parliament despite months of protests. Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris and other cities the day before the vote to denounce the pension changes, which they fear will oblige people to work longer for less money. Currently the eligibility age for a full pension is 62. As...

Macron Bypasses Lawmakers to Pass France Pension Overhaul

French President Emmanuel Macron moved Saturday to pass his pension overhaul without a vote in the legislature, seeking to brush aside tens of thousands of amendments filed by opposition lawmakers to slow debate. “It is clear that a discussion on the merits was never truly able to take place” in the legislature, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said, invoking an article of the French constitution allowing the executive branch to bypass the legislature. “I deeply regret it.” The move...

Argentinean House of Deputies approves changes to privileged pensions

After a heated debate between the ruling party and the opposition, the Argentinean House of Deputies passed a draft bill to modify the pension system for judges and diplomats. Although the voting resulted in 129 votes in favor and none against, the legislative debates were heated. The bench of Juntos por el Cambio denounced 'irregularities' to gather the necessary quorum to debate the draft bill, due to the presence of lawmaker Daniel Scioli, who made it clear that he...

February 2020

Greek parliament approves pension bill

Greece’s parliament on Thursday approved a pension bill that introduces more flexibility for the self-employed over contributions and incentives to stay working longer on a promise of higher pensions. The new framework, that also creates a digital social security registry, was approved by a majority of lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. Read also Greece. Parliament opens debate on new social security bill The conservative government says workers and employers stand to benefit from the reforms, which are intended to safeguard the system's...