Increased pensions protections for local gov workers

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has released proposals that state that public sector workers will receive increased pensions protections in the event their job is outsourced.

Consulting on reforms to ensure local government workers whose roles are compulsorily transferred to independent providers retain the right to remain in the Local Government Pension Scheme, the government says that transferred staff will continue to have access to all the benefits of being a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme under the reforms, despite their change of direct employer.

Under the plans, it will no longer be possible for employers to offer staff a comparable scheme; all transferred staff will be able to stay in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Rishi Sunak, Minister for Local Government, said: “We’re committed to making the Local Government Pension Scheme fairer and are seeking views on taking existing pension protections further. Staff who have no choice in the transfer of their role will, under these plans, have the peace of mind that despite their change in employer they will remain in the Local Government Pension Scheme retaining their full membership and benefits.”