The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has joined forces with The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) for a series of workshops to guide recruitment agencies through the automatic enrolment process for pensions.
Automatic enrolment of workers into pensions started on 1st October 2012 and means that temporary agency workers are entitled to be enrolled into a workplace pension scheme. The workshops, taking place in Newcastle on 29th November, Stansted on 30th November, London on 12th December and Birmingham on 13th December, will offer guidance to recruiters on how to enroll both their staff and temporary workers under the new obligations.
REC chief executive Kevin Green said:
“We are delighted to be working with experts from two specialist national organisations to support recruiters through the automatic enrolment process. The workshops have been carefully structured to help recruiters ensure that they prepare for their enrolment date, are compliant with the new legislation and can ask the experts any questions that they may have about the process.”
Executive director of employer compliance at The Pensions Regulator Charles Counsell said:
“Our role at the regulator is to educate and enable employers to ensure maximum compliance with the new duties. Workshops which offer recruitment agencies an opportunity to look at how the legislation affects their businesses, to ask questions and share experiences with employers facing similar issues are a really good opportunity to help people understand how to meet their legal requirements.”
Director of communications and engagement at NEST, Graham Vidler said:
“As the provider established specifically for automatic enrolment, we are keen to help employers understand how to meet their legal duties and find out where NEST fits in. Our experience with employers has shown us that getting ready early is essential – 18 months ahead of your staging date is a good rule of thumb – and clear communication with workers is high on employers’ agendas. We look forward to sharing our experiences and explaining some of the tools NEST has on offer.”
The workshops will also feature an update on the REC’s Flexible Work Commission Report and a legal update (including AWR) by Paul Chamberlain, partner and Head of Employment Law at Brabners Chaffe Street solicitors.
REC members and non-member recruiters can book a place to attend the remaining workshops on the REC website. www.rec.uk.com/regions-sectors/sectors/pensionstoolkit
