The European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) has commissioned a study to carry out a detailed analysis of care periods and benefits provided under national occupational pension schemes to workers who suspend their professional career due to care responsibilities. The evaluation of the protection of pension rights in occupational pension schemes during care periods (child care, elderly care) and their comparison with statutory pension schemes will provide a basis for further discussion at national and EU level, for example with the objective of adapting the existing national schemes or reducing the gender pension gap in Member States.
A consortium comprising Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA), Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento Sant’Anna, European Social Observatory (OSE) and Mercer (Danmark) and Tilburg University (Competence Centre for Pension Research) has been appointed to carry out the study. A supporting letter from the European Commission is available here.
The study involves the collection of information, interviews and workshops with a broad range of stakeholders, including:
- social partners: trade unions representing workers’ organisations and business and employers’ organisations,
- representatives of pension funds, insurance organisations, networks of carers and organisations representing families, and
- relevant EU and national agencies and authorities.
We will be reviewing literature and data from across EU Member States so please let us know if you are aware of relevant sources of information. Later in the process, we will be also conducting interviews with stakeholders. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved in these discussions.
If you have any questions about the study, please contact: pensioncarecredits@rpaltd.co.uk
