Legislation

CZECH REPUBLIC - Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek wants changes to the pension program, aimed at reducing the fiscal deficit and improving the country's credit rating, to take effect by 2012.

UK - The coalition government's pensions tax relief proposals risk "pulling the rug" from underneath occupational provision, a consultant warns.

The coalition government's pensions tax relief proposals risk "pulling the rug" from underneath occupational provision, a consultant warns.

US - The State of New Jersey has settled charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it fraudulently misled municipal-bond investors while underfunding the state's two biggest pension plans.

Government is contemplating legislative action to loosen strict rules preventing more than half of schemes switching from RPI to CPI inflation increases, PP can reveal.

The Equality Act 2010 brings together much of the existing anti-discrimination legislation. It also introduces some new concepts to an already complex area. Richard Lee presents a brief checklist of the main elements relevant to DC pension arrangements...

The Imperial Home Décor appeal will be heard before the Supreme Court next spring and could have "chaotic consequences" for schemes, a lawyer says.

EUROPE - The European Commission is reviewing a letter from nine member states seeking to alter the way public debt is calculated to account for changes in state pension systems.

Member benefits will be compromised if the Consumer Prices Index is used instead of Retail Prices Index to measure price inflation, MetLife Assurance says.

NEW ZEALAND - New Zealand's government is setting up a working group to study the merits of compulsory pension savings which could be debated at next year's election, Prime Minister John Key said.