Ros Altmann: The hidden scandal of net pay and low earners

'A hidden scandal'

clock • 3 min read

Ros Altmann calls for urgent action on 'net-pay' schemes, warning the impact on low earners will significantly worsen with contribution rates set to rise to 5%

Auto-enrolment (AE) is a celebrated success, with millions more people having workplace pensions as a result. We want this success to continue - nobody wants to see confidence in workplace pensions undermined. However, there is an issue with the potential to do just that. A hidden scandal which could surface at any time and to which we need to find a resolution as soon as possible. The problem concerns employers auto-enrolling workers who earn less than £11,500 a year - mostly women - into a scheme administered on a net-pay basis. Such schemes force these low earners to pay 25% extra ...

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