Public Sector Pensions

Trouble is brewing in the public sector, the Institute of Directors (IOD) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) have (via a joint commission) called for a radical overhaul of public sector pensions in addition to the pay freeze that is to be implemented by the government for all but the lower paid.

As a starting point they have called for a 2% increase in contributions from public sector employees.

The commission also wants other major changes, as they argue that the true value of the main unfunded public service pension schemes is over 40%, yet the combined value of employer and employee contributions is approximately 20%.

Needless to say the unions representing the public sector do not buy into this argument. They point out that the pay levels of the majority of the public sector is so low, that the pension is the "reward" for accepting low levels of pay.

All very well, maybe, if the country can actually afford the cost.