Search
Close this search box.

LEGAL UPDATE – Pensions Bill amended to prevent pensions discrimination

Pensions Bill amended to prevent pensions discrimination  

As the Pensions Bill received its second reading in Parliament this month, it has emerged that the Government intends to introduce an amendment which will prevent employers asking applicants about their pension arrangements at job interviews and provide tough sanctions if individuals are discriminated against because they intend to opt-in to the new personal account scheme. 

The Bill was passed unopposed, but the Government signalled its intention to table an amendment at the committee stage to outlaw ‘pension discrimination’.  

The proposal flows from concerns that employers could undermine the new personal accounts system scheduled for 2012, which will force employers to contribute 3% of an employee’s earnings to a personal account unless an employee opts out.  

Concerns have been raised by MPs and some unions that by quizzing candidates at the interview about opting out, employers could implement a policy of hiring only those candidates who wish to opt out of the system. 

Some employer’s associations, including the Engineering Employers’ Federation have expressed their opposition to any proposed measures which would allow job applicants who were asked whether they want to save in a pension scheme, such as personal accounts, to make a claim to an employment tribunal. But the TUC argue that such a measure is vital to the success of the proposed personal accounts system.

 

Read more

Latest News

Read More

Expert tips for spring cleaning CV and career

29 March 2024

Newsletter

Receive the latest HR news and strategic content

Please note, as per the GDPR Legislation, we need to ensure you are ‘Opted In’ to receive updates from ‘theHRDIRECTOR’. We will NEVER sell, rent, share or give away your data to third parties. We only use it to send information about our products and updates within the HR space To see our Privacy Policy – click here

Latest HR Jobs

University of Warwick – WMGSalary: £23,144 to £25,138 per annum This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and

The Open University – People ServicesSalary: £57,696 to £64,914 + up to £8,000 per annum MRP supplement* This provides summary information and comment on the

Cardiff UniversitySalary: Competitive This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information

University of Oxford – Oxford Department of International DevelopmentSalary: £28,759 to £33,966 (Grade 5) This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered.

Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE

Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE