December 2019

Chile. No sirvieron los alegatos: por unanimidad, TC rechaza el retiro de los fondos de pensiones

De forma unánime, el Tribunal Constitucional (TC) rechazó este jueves los requerimientos de las dos personas que solicitaron retirar el dinero que han cotizado en las AFP. Las solicitantes eran María Angélica Ojeda, una profesora de Antofagasta, quien buscaba retirar su ahorro previsional desde Cuprum, y Beatriz Valenzuela, quien se desempeña en la atención primaria de salud municipal y que quería todo su dinero ahorrado en Hábitat. En la parte de argumentos, los abogados Javiera Aravena y José Luis...

Government-union pension talks fail in France, strikes to continue

The French government and labor unions ended talks on pension reform on Thursday afternoon without reaching a deal to break the deadlock. Philippe Martinez, leader of the hardline CGT union, told the press after the talks that "the prime minister hasn't heard what the street is saying." Five out of the eight unions called for further actions and a cross-sector demonstrations on Jan. 9, he added. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said new roundtable discussions will be held on the...

Tanzania: Universal Pension Scheme Transforms Lives of Elders in Zanzibar

THE Zanzibar's Universal Social Pension scheme (ZUPS) has improved the lives of older people in Zanzibar and made a positive impact on their wider households, according to a new report released on Wednesday. The Impact Evaluation of the Zanzibar Universal Pension Scheme delivers a positive assessment on how east Africa's first ever universal pension scheme, which entitles all Zanzibari residents, aged 70 and over to a monthly social pension, has positively affected the lives of its recipients. Produced by...

EU pensions judgement sees calls for further solutions

The European Court yesterday provided its ruling on the level of compensation to be provided to individuals who do not receive all of their occupational pension due to the sponsoring employer of their scheme going insolvent. The European Court ruled that the current EU legal requirement that individuals should be entitled to at least 50% of their benefits can continue - provided the person is not left at risk of an EU poverty measure equivalent to about £11,142 per...

Ghana. Government Staff Association Against Extension of Tier 2 Pension Implementation Date

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) says it will not compromise on the January 1, 2020 implementation of the TIER 2 Pension Scheme. Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Isaac Bampoe-Addo, said, the continuous extension of implementation of the Scheme, empowers the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to monopolise pension administration in the country, thereby rendering workers worse off. Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, he stated that, none of the public sector occupational pension...

Chile aprueba reforma para nueva Constitución

La Cámara de Diputados de Chile decidió aprobar este miércoles el proyecto de ley que reforma la Constitución política de su país. El proyecto general necesitaba de un quórum de 2/3 y fue aprobado con 127 votos a favor, 18 en contra y 5 abstenciones. Sin embargo, la Cámara rechazó indicaciones sobre paridad de género, pueblos originarios y trato igualitario a independientes. Como se recuerda, la reforma constitucional es una consecuencia del “acuerdo por la paz” que se firmó...

Inversionistas en bonos buscan rendimientos en América Latina

Una ola de protestas populares de las que se da una vez en una generación podría ser de gran ayuda el próximo año para algunos rincones del mercado en América Latina. Los administradores de dinero están al acecho de activos que fueron castigados injustamente, apostando que los posibles rendimientos superarán el riesgo político y social. Si bien una elección sorprendente en Argentina y las protestas en Chile, Ecuador y Colombia en el cuarto trimestre hicieron que las monedas cayeran...

French unions meet government as pension strikes continue

The French government and unions are to face-off over controversial pension reforms, 14 days into a crippling transport strike that has damaged businesses, frustrated commuters and cast a shadow over holiday plans. After hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Tuesday, both sides stood firm prior to a series of meetings. Government officials have previously said they were ready to negotiate. Union leaders have vowed to continue their action into the new year as the government...

African Development Bank to Fund Morocco’s Social Protection Program

The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved funding of $204 million to improve social protection in Morocco, on Wednesday, December 18. The main objective of the program is to broaden social protection in Morocco to include people with disabilities, children, and vulnerable women, the AfDB said in a press release. The program also aims to promote a regional approach to developing more integrated and inclusive social policies. Meanwhile, the fund will enable the creation of 144 units specialized in...

US. Retirees elected to Legislature in November can draw pension, thanks to IRS phone call

Most people do not welcome a phone call from the Internal Revenue Service, but a recent call means that Mississippi’s retired public employees can serve in the Legislature and draw their pension. The Public Employees Retirement System Board, based on the IRS phone call, voted unanimously Tuesday to change its long-standing regulation that prevented retired public employees from drawing their pension while serving in the Legislature. Early last year the PERS Board had voted to change the regulation by...