NETHERLANDS – The Dutch corporate pension fund association, the OPF, has slammed the government’s timing of the new pensions bill, calling its introduction in 2006 “irresponsible lawmaking”.

The bill was passed in the Dutch lower Parliament, or Tweede Kamer, recently. It will need to be pass through the Eerste Kamer, or upper house, in February before it can be made into law.

Under the provisions of the new bill, the Dutch government has scrapped tax breaks for VUT and pre-pension premiums in 2006 (with the exception of those who are 55 years of age or older on 1 January 2005).

Alternatively, The Hague is to introduce a voluntary lifestyle savings scheme (or ‘levensloop’), which allows workers to retire three years before the official retirement age of 65.

In a statement sent to several Eerste Kamer senators, the OPF accuses the government of letting “political interests” prevail over managerial concerns. “This leads to irresponsible lawmaking, and therefore chaos when the law will be executed.”

Earlier, PGGM, the 58 billion-euro scheme for health care workers, asked the government to delay the introduction of the scheme by a year, to 2007. It said it needed more time to bring its administrative systems in line with the new arrangements. Pension funds such as PGGM will be allowed to operate the lifestyle savings scheme.

The centre-right government, however, is set on introducing the new scheme in 2006, in time for the general election taking place soon after.

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