April 2020

India. Migrant Workers Need Social Protection To Overcome COVID-19 Lockdown Trauma: Health Ministry

The Health Ministry today called for providing a social protection to migrant workers, saying they are prone to social, psychological and emotional trauma in lockdown situations. Immediate concerns faced by such migrant workers relate to food, shelter, healthcare, fear of getting infected or spreading the infection, loss of wages, concerns about the family, anxiety and fear. "Sometimes, they also face harassment and negative reactions of the local community. All this calls for strong social protection," the ministry said in...

March 2020

Japan. World’s largest pension fund growing greener

Japan’s massive Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has been a keen proponent of investing in sustainable assets. In 2019, it committed to investing a sizeable tranche of its US$1.6 trillion assets under management into green and socially responsible investments. And by making asset managers accountable with this strategy, the GPIF is strongly pushing the boundaries of sustainability investing, not only in Japan, but in the global asset management industry as well. In its latest move towards...

Japan to give one-year tax grace period for virus-hit companies

Unprecedented payment delay to include corporate taxes, social insurance premiums. The Japanese government will create a special system to provide a one-year grace period for companies to pay tax and social insurance premiums due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Nikkei has learned. The period will cover the payment of corporate tax, sales tax and social insurance premiums. The government will exempt delinquent tax and will not ask companies to provide collateral. The unprecedented measure comes amid slowing economic activity after the central and...

Masataka Miyazono to Head up Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund

The Japanese government named Masataka Miyazono, as the new President of Japan Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). Masataka Miyazono is the former Deputy President of Norinchukin Bank. Masataka Miyazono will replace current president Norihiro Takahashi, whose term is due to expire at the end of March 2020. Masataka Miyazono retired from Norinchukin Bank on June 22, 2018. Read more @swfinstitute

China’s total pensions assets grew by 19 percent to RMB 15 trillion in 2019, forecasts KPMG

China's three-pillar pension sector sees healthy growth prospects, improving investment returns and growing participation following regulatory changes. China's total pension assets are expected to have grown by 19 percent in 2019 to more than RMB 15 trillion. This is a year-on-year growth rate similar to its long-term average of 17 percent recorded over the last decade. According to KPMG's latest China Pensions Outlook report, the increase was due to the development of occupational annuities and continued capital injection under...

February 2020

Local government stops pension of 6 officials for corruption in India

Odisha government on Monday stopped pension of six retired officers and asked two other officials to take voluntary retirement from service after they were convicted in different corruption cases. The government in its order said that the service of two officials were no more required for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices, an official statement said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has issued such a direction as part of the state government's 'Zero Tolerance' policy towards corruption, an official statement...

Coronavirus fears sink stock markets in Asia

Asian stock markets opened the week sharply lower Monday amid fears the coronavirus dogging the mainland this year is spreading more broadly now. "Market jitters today are largely due to the rise in cases outside of China, especially in South Korea and Italy," wrote Tai Hui, Hong Kong-based chief market strategist, Asia, with J.P. Morgan Asset Management. According to World Health Organization data, confirmed coronavirus cases in South Korea surged to 602 from 30 over the week ended Feb....

China’s state pension plan needs retooling as slowdown, ageing population hit retirement pot

China’s ageing population is increasing the pressure on the state pension deficit at the same time employers are falling behind on their contributions. A deeper economic slowdown could burn a bigger hole in the retirement pot, experts say. The cumulative balance in the pool stood at about 5 trillion yuan (US$712 billion) at the end of 2019, and the employers’ contributions were expected to fall short by 417.4 billion yuan due to measures to ease their burden, vice finance...

Japan’s Public Sector Balance Sheet

By Yugo Koshima This paper compiles and reviews the evolution of Japan's Public Sector Balance Sheet (PSBS). In the past, large crossholdings of assets and liabilities within the public sector played a role in sustaining a high level of public debt and low interest rates. The Fiscal Investment and Loan Fund (FILF) channeled all postal deposits and pension savings to financing of public sector borrowing. After the FILF refrom in 2000, however, the Post Bank and pension funds shifted their...

Mongolian commercial banks resume providing loans to pensioners

Mongolian commercial banks have resumed providing loans to pensioners, the country's Minister of Labor and Social Protection Sodnom Chinzorig said Friday. The resumption started on Thursday after the loans of all pensioners in the country have been written off, Chinzorig told a press conference. Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga announced the decision on Dec. 31 to write off the loans of all pensioners to help them get out of debt when he extended New Year greetings via media. On Jan....