Focus On Employer Retirement Contributions

The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed the announcement of the
Periodic Report Group as provided for in the Retirement Income Act. "The group needs to look at ways
that employment based superannuation can be promoted<" said Ross Wilson, CTU president today.

"Only about 15% of workers are covered by employment based schemes".

Ross Wilson said there were several reasons for this decline including
tax treatment, regulatory requirements, and low growth in real wages.

"The CTU is particularly pleased that Lynn Middleton, secretary of the PSA will be Deputy-Chair for the Periodic Report Group," said Ross Wilson.

He said that Lynn Middleton had been active on retirement income issues and policy for many years.

Her Masters thesis was on women and retirement income planning, she has been
a trustee for the Global Retirement Trust, and has written articles, given
numerous presentations and developed educational material for workers on
retirement income issues.