Tribunal: A fund’s rules control savings component withdrawals
The fund would be acting ultra vires if it paid a savings withdrawal while the member’s and employer’s contributions remained unpaid.
#arrearcontributions
Move to two-pot system drives jump in complaints to the Adjudicator
Outgoing Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane says the system has laid bare long-standing non-compliance with section 13A of the Pension Funds Act.
50% surge in employers in arrears with retirement contributions
Unpaid contributions rose to R7.29bn, and 62% of delinquent employers are in the motor and private security sectors, according to FSCA data.
What the FSCA and retirement funds are doing to tackle arrears
Commissioner Unathi Kamlana is confident that within two years, arrears could be far less of a systemic problem.
Labour inspectors to regain power to enforce contribution compliance
The Department of Employment and Labour is withdrawing a determination that prevented inspectors from enforcing section 34A of the BCEA.
Adjudicator asks FSCA to act against ‘unresponsive’ retirement fund
Muvhango Lukhaimane says the SALA Pension Fund’s refusal to engage with her Office’s enquiries constitutes a breach of the fund’s fiduciary obligations.
Retirement fund held to PFA’s jurisdictional requirements
Enforcement of the Adjudicator’s orders must proceed where the employer-municipality resides and where the unpaid contributions arose.
Funds ‘must do more’ to hold employers accountable for arrear contributions
The OPFA on how retirement funds should address non-compliant employers, death benefit allocations, and requests to withhold benefits.
Adjudicator aligns with High Court’s ruling on the in duplum rule
The OPFA confirms that penalty interest on late employer contributions may not exceed the original capital owing – in line with the Full Bench’s judgment in March.
Fund loses bid to remove limit on interest on arrear contributions
The Full Bench affirms that interest under the Pension Funds Act is capped by the common law in duplum rule.
FSCA confirms first-day calculation for late-payment interest
The revised interpretation, which reverses the Authority’s earlier guidance, aligns with the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator’s view.
Labour law reforms mulled to clamp down on arrear contributions
The government, business, and labour are working together at Nedlac to address employers’ non-compliance with payments to retirement funds.
Retirement fund secures R14m order against municipality and its officers
The High Court describes the municipality’s persistent challenges to the fund’s applications as an example of the destruction of the country’s constitutional ethos.
Enforcement is the Achilles’ heel in contribution compliance, says Adjudicator
The FSCA, National Treasury, and the Pension Funds Adjudicator tell MPs what they are doing to address the non-payment of retirement fund contributions. Regulatory interventions other than COFI may be in the offing.
Arrear contributions: FSCA publishes third list of defaulting employers
A longer annexure of employers who have cleared their arrears or arranged to do so signals the effectiveness of the Authority’s ‘name and shame’ campaign.
Court orders employer to disclose bank records in battle over contributions
The Mafube Local Municipality is accused of withholding nearly R38 million in employee retirement fund contributions.
Failure to act timeously over arrear contributions places members’ benefits at risk
Over half of the awards issued by the Pension Funds Adjudicator for complaints about unpaid contributions were affected because part of the claim had expired.
