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Reform pensions auto-enrolment to provide security in retirement for low-paid workers

Date: 03 May 2017 The Annual Delegate Meeting of the shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw today backed a call for reform of automatic enrolment in company pension schemes. Conference unanimously supported the abolition of the minimum age and income criteria. Currently a worker needs to be over 22 and earn more than £10,000 per year to be auto-enrolled.
Responding to the debate in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary said: “All employees who have contributed to the success of their employer deserve to enjoy a retirement both financially and hopefully with good health. The Union will continue campaigning for our members to get the best retirement possible.
 
“The two factors for auto-enrolment are that you must be between 22 and your state pension age and you must earn over £10,000 per year. These triggers particularly affect retail workers. Many now have to take jobs with more than one employer and if workers earn over the £10,000 threshold across more than one job, they aren't eligible for auto-enrolment and in reality few opt-in.
 
“More than half of part-time workers are excluded from auto-enrolment and the majority of these are women. By scrapping the two factors for auto-enrolment, we can ensure more of our members have security in their old age.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest trade union with nearly 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion
 

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The official website of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers