Foreign workers to get pensions info in native languages
Foreign workers are to be provided with pension information in their native languages, it emerged today.
The Pensions Board is translating its pensions checklist into seven different languages, including Polish, Arabic and Chinese, to cater for the estimated 200,000 foreign people in employment here.
Its chief executive Anne Maher said there would also be a new booklet on equal pensions treatment in the workplace.
“Ireland has undergone considerable change over the past 10 years and we now benefit from a new multicultural society and workforce.
"These publications will ensure that those in the workplace are aware of what constitutes discrimination when it comes to their pension and where they can turn to if they are experiencing discrimination,” she said.
At the start of National Pensions Action week, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan repeated his warning about the low level of pension coverage in the two million-strong workforce.
He said that more than 900,000 people did not have personal pensions and pointed out that the the number of people aged over 65 would treble from a current level of 464,000 to 1.5 million by 2056.
“At present there are over four workers contributing to the support of every pensioner. This will fall to 2.7 in 2026 and to less than 1.5 workers per pensioner in 50 years' time.”
The National Recruitment Federation has agreed to provide pensions information to the 80,000 temporary workers it deals with each year.
Mr Brennan is currently awaiting the report of the Pensions Board before deciding if he will introduce compulsory pensions.
“While all of these initiatives are welcome and will all help to increase awareness and improve pension coverage, the fact remains that there is an urgent need to reform our pensions system so that it delivers a decent pension for all of our citizens,” he said.
The key targets of National Pensions Action Week are 25 to 39 year olds, who are the most not likely to have taken out personal pensions.
