A pension scheme for employees must be offered by a licensed pension provider. Until 2011, only insurers and pension funds could obtain a licence. Since 2011, an Institution for Occupational Retirement Provision or IORP (in Dutch: Premie Pensioen Instelling or PPI) has also been allowed to administer pension schemes.
IORP: what is it?
An Institution for Occupational Retirement Provision or IORP is a new type of pension provider which invests pension contributions. It can be set up by anyone, including, apart from insurers and pension funds, employer and employee organisations, banks, asset managers, advisers and anyone who wants to set up a pension scheme. However, a licence is required.
The IORP administers defined contribution schemes by investing the defined contributions paid in. This is done by professional investors. Employees and employers have no say in the matter. A IORP is not allowed to give any guarantees, and the investment risks are borne by the employee. The IORP administration costs are paid via a separate invoice.
The IORP itself cannot pay out pensions. When the employee retires, the pension capital accrued in the IORP must be used to purchase pension benefits. For example, from an insurer.
The employer can, however, make its own arrangements for a partner's pension, orphan's pension or occupational disability cover. A IORP will often have an agreement in place with an insurer to make sure that this is not too costly.
IORP: the advantages | IORP: the disadvantages |
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Zwitserleven IORP products
Zwitserleven has two types of IORP products:: Pension Now and PensionAccount Now. With these products, the contributions paid in will go almost entirely be used to accrue a pension for your employees. The employee has online access to his total net pension. If the employee becomes incapacitated for work, Zwitserleven will take over payment of the contribution. The surviving dependants’ pension is also insured via Zwitserleven.