Occupational pension funds - Overview
The idea behind occupational pension insurance is to enable employees to maintain, to an appropriate extent, their accustomed standard of living after retirement. To this end, the employees join a pension fund, either voluntarily or on a compulsory basis. These funds are run by representatives of both the employers and the employees.
Occupational benefit funds - benefits
Occupational pension funds, also called the 2nd pillar, complete the basic 1st pillar AVS/AI/APG system (old age, disability, loss of income). Together, these two insurance systems should ensure that retired people to a large extent maintain their former standard of living.
Organisation and financing of occupational pension funds
The 2nd pillar is financed through capitalisation. Throughout their actives lives, all age categories constitute a capital. A cover capital is invested to guarantee the payment of future benefits. The state contributes only indirectly to the financing of pension funds, by granting tax exemption on the contributions and 2nd pillar assets. The pension funds are responsible for the proper implementation of occupational pension provision.