High hopes for ambitious pensions auto-enrolment plan

Employers are facing soaring input costs, Minimum Wage and rising wages. They are less than enthusiastic about part-funding AE schemes, writes Kyran Fitzgerald 

Future planning: In the UK, every employer must register an employee aged between 22 and retirement age who earns over £10,000 a year (a much lower minimum threshold than that proposed for Ireland).

The new auto-enrolment system is to be introduced on September 30 next.

This has been finally confirmed by the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphries. Speaking on RTÉ on September 29, the Minister confirmed that the Cabinet had agreed to the plan. It is expected that around 800,000 employees will be affected.