All workers 'deserve a decent pension'

Thursday, May 20th 2010

The government needs to make current public sector pensions system to ensure all workers are able to retire in relative comfort.

This is according to chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) Joanne Segars, who was speaking to the 300 managers of local authority pension funds.

"All working people, whether they work in the public sector or the private sector, have the right to a decent pension that comes with their job," she stated.

Noting that it has been suggested the government cuts pensions in the public sector to those traditionally seen at private firms in order to close the gap between the two, Ms Segars instead urged the new coalition administration to make improvements in private pension provisions.

This reflected public opinion, she argued, citing a recent survey by NAPF - which has 15 million members controlling assets worth around £800 billion - showing 90 per cent of respondents believe individuals should have access to a decent work pension, regardless of the sector they are employed in.