Eberbacher Kreis, an association of German lawyers specialising in occupational pensions, has approached members of the parliament (Bundestag) with proposals to amend the draft law designed to reinvigorate company pension plans.
Marco Arteaga, partner at Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft and spokesperson for the association, told IPE that the group met this week with all parliamentary groups.
“The MPs asked what kind of specific changes are necessary to improve the second law to strengthen occupational pensions (Betriebsrentenstärkungsgesetz II),” he said.
Eberbacher Kreis – whose members include lawyers from Gleiss Lutz, Linklaters, Hengeler Müller and Baker & McKenzie – plans to submit its proposals to the finance and the labour and social affairs committees of the Bundestag.
Experts in the committees could then discuss the changes with parliamentary group leaders. The legislative process is expected to conclude by year-end.
Carsten Brodesser, MP for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), urged the association at an event this week to hand proposals directly to group leaders during parliamentary procedures.
The association is calling for a “massive expansion” of occupational pensions, which remain stagnant, particularly in small and medium-sized companies. It wants further relaxation of rules on defined contribution (DC) pension plans under social partner models backed by collective agreements.
“We are talking about the revival of employer-funded occupational pensions to provide new pension promises,” Arteaga said, adding that the government’s draft law won’t boost coverage.
Eberbacher Kreis argues for changes to limit employer liability on DC schemes, allow pension funds outside collective agreements, and introduce a “general benefit for all” – a form of automatic enrolment under which employers start contributing when employees join a company.
The association also proposes simple account models for entitlements, tax exemptions for DC contributions, and rejects so-called “dock-in models”, which allow employers to join existing social partner arrangements. According to Arteaga, employers not bound by collective agreements are unlikely to participate.
Metzler bank has recently applied a dock-in strategy via the Sozialpartner Pensionsfonds to offer DC plans to employees in the home care, private bus and ground handling sectors.
The latest digital edition of IPE’s magazine is now available
