December 2024
18Dec

Canada. Navigating Change: Developments in the Pensions and Benefits Sector

Recent regulatory changes, case law precedents and best practices are reshaping the pensions and benefits sector. These changes emphasize the need for robust compliance, governance and strategic planning to effectively navigate emerging risks and obligations. Below are five key developments that plan administrators and stakeholders should keep in mind. Regulatory Updates. The federal government has introduced proposed amendments that would require OSFI to publish investment information with respect to certain federally regulated pension plans. Provincially, Ontario filed various regulations to implement...

December 18, 2024
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17Dec

U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves to delay second part of government pensions review

U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has delayed a critical second phase of a government review into the pensions sector, according to reports in the Financial Times. In July this year, Reeves had announced a pension review to “boost growth and make every part of Britain better off,” according to an official government release. The interim report of the first phase was published at a Mansion House event on November 14, with the second phase and publication of a...

December 17, 2024
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17Dec

Canada lifts 30% pension fund investment cap

The federal government has announced plans to remove the long-standing cap that restricts Canadian pension funds from owning more than 30% of voting shares in a Canadian entity, finance minister Chrystia Freeland revealed during a press conference in Toronto on Friday. This change, part of Monday’s fall economic statement, is part of a push to increase domestic investment and leverage the vast resources of Canadian pension funds. “Canadian pension funds have over $3 trillion in assets and some of the world’s...

December 17, 2024
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03Dec

Strong action is needed to make retirement systems more inclusive, resilient and innovative

The design and governance of asset-backed pensions should be enhanced to foster more inclusive and resilient systems, secure better outcomes for individuals and contribute to sustainable economic growth and innovation, according to new analysis from the OECD. Pension assets in OECD countries grew by 10% in 2023, reaching over USD 56 trillion, more than triple the level seen two decades ago. Total assets hit USD 63 trillion after adding pension reserve funds held by governments. The 2023 total is 5%...

December 3, 2024
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November 2024
29Nov

Brazil: Employment & Benefits – 2024 Highlights and 2025 Outlook

By Aline Fidelis This year has brought several significant updates to Brazilian labor law, with key changes focusing on equal pay, digital communication requirements, and debate over the regulation of platform work. These developments highlight the increasing emphasis on gender equality, workplace mental health, and the evolving nature of work in the gig economy. This article outlines the key highlights from 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. Get the report here

November 29, 2024
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21Nov

UK. Industry calls for more flexibility around CDC regulation

There has been strong support for government proposals to introduce multi-employer CDCs, as the consultation on Occupational Pension Scheme regulations for these new arrangements comes to a close. However in their responses a number of consultancy firms said they want more information on how such schemes might work in practice.  Hymans Robertson partner Kathryn Fleming says: “This consultation is a welcome stepping stone towards CDC that offers great value for money.  We are hugely supportive of CDC at scale to deliver...

November 21, 2024
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21Nov

US. CalPERS affirms commitment to ESG amid changes coming to Washington

CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost affirmed the $522.4 billion pension fund’s commitment to environmental, social and governance investing in the face of expected federal policy changes stemming from the recent election. Election results make clear that change is coming, Frost told the board of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, Sacramento, at its Nov. 20 meeting. “We expect the year ahead will include new voices and viewpoints on several issues, including climate- focused investing, corporate governance and healthcare policy,” Frost said. “We welcome those...

November 21, 2024
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19Nov

Ghana blocks pension funds from offshore investment on currency concerns, sources say

Ghana is clamping down on private pension fund managers who want to invest in offshore assets on concerns it could worsen pressure on its cedi currency, three industry sources told Reuters. After pension reforms in 2010, workers' retirement contributions in the world's number two cocoa producer enjoyed strong growth, buoyed by a tiered scheme that allow private firms to manage some contributions. Assets under management by the pension fund industry were 78.2 billion Ghanaian cedis ($4.93 billion) in June, of which...

November 19, 2024
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14Nov

UK. Reeves in radical pension shake-up to boost growth

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning what she calls the "biggest pension reform in decades" in an attempt to boost economic growth. The government wants to merge the UK's 86 council pension schemes into a handful of "pension megafunds". It is hoped the changes will lead to billions of pounds being invested in the UK in areas such as energy infrastructure, tech start-ups and public services. Reeves told the BBC that UK public sector pension funds in their current form were not big...

November 14, 2024
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13Nov

UK. Pensions to be key focus of Chancellor’s first Mansion House speech

Pensions are expected to be a key focus of Rachel Reeves’s first Mansion House Speech, due to be delivered this Thursday. Many in the industry are expecting the new Chancellor to set out bold pension reforms, setting out how DC and DB funds will be used to boost investment into UK infrastructure and private business over the next five years. This Mansion House speech is a key economic speech given by the Chancellor to senior City and banking representatives, outlining broad policy...

November 13, 2024
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