Fair Employment and Treatment Order (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes

18.—(1) After Article 25 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order insert –

“Trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes

25A.— (1) It is unlawful, except in relation to rights accrued or benefits payable in respect of periods of service prior to 10th December 2003, for the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme to discriminate against a member or prospective member of the scheme in carrying out any of their functions in relation to it (including in particular their functions relating to the admission of members to the scheme and the treatment of members of it).

(2) It is unlawful for the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme, in relation to the scheme, to subject to harassment a member or prospective member of it.

(3) Schedule 2A shall have effect for the purposes of: –

(a) defining terms used in this Article and in that Schedule;

(b) treating every occupational pension scheme as including a non-discrimination rule;

(c) giving trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme power to alter the scheme so as to secure conformity with the non-discrimination rule;

(d) making provision in relation to the procedures, and remedies which may be granted, on certain complaints relating to occupational pension schemes presented to the Tribunal under Article 38.”.

(2) In Article 37(2) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (restriction on proceedings for breach of the Order), at the end insert “or the investigation or determination of any matter in accordance with Part X (investigations: the Pensions Ombudsman) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993(1) by the Pensions Ombudsman”.

(3) After Article 39(13) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order insert –

“(14) This Article has effect subject to paragraph 7 of Schedule 2A.”.

(4) After Schedule 2 to the Fair Employment and Treatment Order insert –

Article 25A(2)

“SCHEDULE 2A OCCUPATIONAL PENSION SCHEMES

Interpretation

1.— (1) In this Schedule –

“active member”, “deferred member”, “managers”, “pensioner member” and “trustees or managers”, in relation to an occupational pension scheme, have the meanings given by Article 121(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(2) as at 10th December 2003;

“member” means any active member, deferred member or pensioner member;

“non-discrimination rule” means the rule in paragraph 2;

“occupational pension scheme” has the same meaning as in the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 as at 10th December 2003;

“prospective member”, in relation to an occupational pension scheme, means any person who, under the terms of his employment or the rules of the scheme or both –

(a)

is able, at his own option, to become a member of the scheme;

(b)

shall become so able if he continues in the same employment for a sufficient period of time;

(c)

shall be admitted to it automatically unless he makes an election not to become a member; or

(d)

may be admitted to it subject to the consent of his employer.

(2) In paragraph 6, “employer”, in relation to an occupational pension scheme, has the meaning given by Article 121(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as at 10th December 2003.

(3) Any term used in Article 25A and in this Schedule shall have the same meaning in that Article as it has in this Schedule.

Non-discrimination rule

2.   Every occupational pension scheme shall be treated as including a provision (“the non-discrimination rule”) containing a requirement that the trustees or managers of the scheme refrain from doing any act which is unlawful by virtue of Article 25A.

3.   The other provisions of the scheme are to have effect subject to the non-discrimination rule.

4.   The trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme may –

(a) if they do not (apart from this paragraph) have power to make such alterations to the scheme as may be required to secure conformity with the non-discrimination rule; or

(b) if they have such power but the procedure for doing so: –

(i) is liable to be unduly complex or protracted; or

(ii) involves the obtaining of consents which cannot be obtained, or can only be obtained with undue delay or difficulty;

by resolution make such alterations to the scheme.

5.   Alterations made by a resolution such as is referred to in paragraph 4 may have effect in relation to a period before the alterations are made (but may not have effect in relation to any time before 10th December 2003).

Procedure in the Tribunal

6.   Where under Article 38 a member or prospective member of an occupational pension scheme presents to the Tribunal a complaint that the trustees or managers of the scheme –

(a) have committed against him an act which is unlawful by virtue of Article 25A or 33A; or

(b) are by virtue of Article 35 or 36 to be treated as having committed against him such an act;

the employer in relation to the scheme shall, for the purposes of the rules governing procedure, be treated as a party and be entitled to appear and be heard in accordance with those rules.

Remedies in the Tribunal

7.— (1) This paragraph applies where –

(a) under Article 38 a member or prospective member of an occupational pension scheme (“the complainant”) presents to the Tribunal a complaint against the trustees or managers of the scheme or an employer;

(b) the complainant is not a pensioner member of the scheme;

(c) the complaint relates to the terms on which persons become members of the scheme, or the terms on which members of the scheme are treated; and

(d) the Tribunal finds the complaint to be well-founded.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, the Tribunal may, without prejudice to the generality of its power under Article 39(1)(a), make an order declaring that the complainant has a right –

(a) where the complaint relates to the terms on which persons become members of the scheme, to be admitted to the scheme;

(b) where the complaint relates to the terms on which members of the scheme are treated, to membership of the scheme without discrimination.

(3) An order under sub-paragraph (2) –

(a) may be made in respect of such period as is specified in the order (but may not be made in respect of any time before 10th December 2003);

(b) may make such provision as the Tribunal considers appropriate as to the terms on which, or the capacity in which, the complainant is to enjoy such admission or membership.

(4) Where this paragraph applies, the Tribunal may not make an order for compensation under Article 39(1)(b), whether in relation to arrears of benefits or otherwise, except –

(a) for injury to feelings;

(b) by virtue of Article 39(5).”.

(1)

1993 c. 49

(2)

S.I.1995/3213 (N.I. 22)