Your involvement in the pension changes

Shell Netherlands is currently discussing the changes to our pension as a result of the Future Pensions Act (WTP) with the Central Works Council (COR). In recent weeks we have received many questions from employees and other participants about how they can give their view on the upcoming changes.

The government has explicitly aimed to ensure proper involvement of all participants, but has deliberately chosen not to include an individual right of objection in the new legislation. The intention of the government is to enable a good transition to the new system. An individual right of consent would make the transition considerably more complex and virtually impossible. Another factor is that it is a very complex matter and that many people may not be able to properly oversee or assess the consequences. Adequate involvement of the participants is therefore guaranteed in other ways.

At Shell, the pension agreement is a topic that is discussed with the COR. The COR has a right of consent; This is regulated by law. Shell Netherlands and the COR must go through a careful process, in which a comprehensive transition plan is drawn up by Shell, in which all choices and considerations must be included. The changes affect not only Shell employees, but also former employees (the so-called deferred members) and pensioners. Shell Netherlands and the COR must take all interests of all parties involved into account and, ultimately, take a balanced and informed decision. The COR is supported by an expert and has also set up a WTP working group. In addition, the COR regularly consults a sounding board group that includes colleagues who have knowledge about pensions.

 The other participants must also be involved in the process. The representative associations of pensioners and deferred members (at Shell this is VOEKS) have a hearing right and can thus give their opinion on the transition plan. Shell Netherlands and the COR will also have to take this opinion into account in the final decision-making process. Once a decision has been taken, that decision is then submitted to the pension fund. The pension fund must then review that decision and, among other things, assess whether the requirement of a balanced decision has been met. In addition, the pension fund will also seek advice from the Accountability Body, in which, among other things, pensioners are represented. In this way, the government has safeguarded a very careful process with all kinds of stakeholders.  

At Shell, we implement these legal safeguards very carefully. For example, we have been in discussions with the VOEKS hearing rights committee since the beginning of this year to include them in the decisions to be taken and various aspects that are important in this regard and also to receive their input and feedback. This also applies to the COR, with which we have been holding information sessions about the upcoming changes since the beginning of last year.

The pensionquiz

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Infosessions VOEKS

The Association of Shell Pensioners and Former Employees (VOEKS) is organising information meetings soon to discuss the future of pensions at Shell with former members. A presentation will be given to explain the important choices (no decisions have been made yet), after which there will be room for questions and discussion. It is important for the VOEKS hearing rights committee to gauge the opinion of the VOEKS constituency on the possible pension implications of the new law. Below are the dates.  

 Region  Date   Time   Location
 De Haag/Leiden   20 september   14:00-17:00  Dorpscentrum 
Lijtweg 9, Oegstgeest 
 Amsterdam/Haarlem-Alkmaar   22 september  10:00-12:30  
13:15-16:00 
Museum Huis van Hilde 
Westerplein 6, Castricum 
Het Zuiden   26 september  10:00-13:00  Hotel De Borgh 
IJshof 1, Zevenbergen 
Het Noorden  29 september  10:00-13:00 
14:00-17:00 
NAM kantoor 
Schepersmaat 2, Assen 
Het Sticht/Arnhem- 
Apeldoorn/Twente 
 2 October 14:00–17:00   Kulturhus 
Stationsstraat 25, Epe 
Rijnmond  13 October 10:00-13:00  Carlton Oasis hotel 
Curieweg 1, Spijkenisse 
Virtuele sessies End of October
(to be confirmed)
  Online – invitation follows


More information on how to apply can be found on the VOEKS website:

Additional information sessions

Due to the high turnout at the information sessions in June and July, we have decided to organize two more information sessions. These will take place on September 12 and 14. The sessions are intended for Shell employees only.

 

You can sign up here.

 

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