Employee Benefits

CANADA - The Ontario government has introduced legislation to parliament that would end mandatory retirement at age 65.

UK - The UK should consider a savings scheme along the lines of New Zealand's new voluntary savings scheme as part of the solution to the looming pensions crisis, says the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI).

UK - Insurance company Allianz Cornhill has appointed Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) to administer its defined contribution pension arrangements.

INDIA - The systematic reform of India's pension system represents the "most ambitious" effort in the South Asian region to date, according to the World Bank.

UK - Continually low take up of defined contribution schemes despite increased education efforts by employers is putting the provision of occupational pensions at risk, warns Hewitt Associates.

UK - Aon Consulting has launched a new defined contribution product aimed at providing small and medium sized pension funds greater flexibility and cost effectiveness.

IRELAND - Members of defined contribution schemes in Ireland are receiving a total 10% contribution on average, a level which is likely to prove inadequate to provide a pension, according to a new survey from Mercer HR Consulting.

US - New York City comptroller William C. Thompson, on behalf of the five New York City pension funds, has requested 15 companies to adopt workplace human rights policies.

AUSTRALIA - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has announced its plans to acquire the Australian operations of Mellon Human Resources & Investor Solutions and its subsidiaries.

US - The Thomson Corporation has outsourced its human resource operations to Hewitt Associates.