Employees fall into three different categories:
- private sector, not included in an employer’s occupational pension scheme for retirement benefits
- private sector, included in an employer’s occupational pension scheme for retirement benefits
- public sector, included in a public service superannuation scheme.
Private Sector
In this case, the employer MUST provide all employees with access to at least one Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) to which they can contribute by net
pay deduction from salary. However, the employer is not obliged to contribute to an employee’s pension.
Private sector – included in employer scheme
Where an employee is included in their employer’s occupational pension scheme, the employer is making contributions. The employee may also be making contributions and he or she may be able to top up their employer scheme benefits with AVC s(Additional Voluntary Contributions).
Public service employees
Virtually all public service employees are included in a public service unfunded occupational pension scheme. The benefits provided can differ significantly by the date of entry into service, and the sector of the public service the employee works in.