Trends in global retirement

The retirement benefit landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade, and its evolution toward more cost-effective solutions is ongoing. The following resources provide multinational employers with a deep look into the world of global retirement and the trends we're tracking.

A broad look at global retirement

Global Retirement Management

Support for the management of a multinational organization's defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) retirement plans around the world.

Global DC Pensions Insights Hub

Explore defined contribution insights from across the globe to drive better retirement outcomes for your organization and employees.

Navigating market volatility: Strategies for defined contribution pension arrangements

Three areas of focus that employers can build into their strategy to help their defined contribution arrangements stand up to adverse conditions.

International Pension Plan Survey 2025

Employers expand plan eligibility and enhance inclusivity to become more responsive to employee needs.

Pensions: Global Accounting Consolidation and Risk Management

Is your multinational company interested in a more effective way to consolidate and monitor the financials of your pension debt?

LifeSight

Your global retirement solution, delivered locally.

Global market updates

Global Pension Finance Watch – Second Quarter 2026

All regions saw an increase in the pension index during Q2, as positive investment returns generally outweighed the impact of higher liabilities.

Global Pension Assets Study – 2026

The Global Pension Assets Study estimates global pension fund assets across 22 major pension markets. These geographies now stand at US$68.3 trillion in pension assets and account for 74% of the GDP of these economies.

Global Markets Overview

Navigating market volatility: strategies for defined contribution pension arrangements.

Global legislative updates

Austria: Proposed new pension option and flexibility for employees

Austria's proposed pension reform would give employees more choice in how their mandatory severance contributions are invested and whether they are paid out in a lump sum or as a lifetime pension.

China: New protections for employees working beyond retirement age

China establishes formal protections for employees working past normal retirement age, with employer mandates around wage agreements, job duties, workplace safety and other job benefits.

Hong Kong: Covered earnings increase for Mandatory Provident Fund

Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority is considering raising the covered earnings ceiling for Mandatory Provident Fund contributions to reflect current prices and wages.

Bangladesh: New mandate for provident funds for large employers

Bangledeshi employers with 100-plus workers must establish a provident fund for employees, increase paid time off and make other benefit enhancements as part of long-awaited changes to the labor law.

South Korea: Severance Pay Scheme to be replaced by ERBSA mandatory funded retirement plans

South Korea is abolishing traditional severance pay in favor of a mandate for all companies to provide a funded ERBSA plan, a change that would be phased in over time.

South Korea: Supreme Court ruling on performance-based pay and severance calculations

South Korea's Supreme Court rules that performance-based pay should not count as part of average wages for calculating severance and other employee benefits.

United States: New tax-efficient savings account for children and employees (under age 18)

Starting July 4, 2026, U.S. employers can contribute to an employee's child's Trump Account, a new type of individual retirement account, as a tax-advantaged employee benefit.

Insights on HR responses to the regional situation in the Middle East

Organizations are leaning into flexibility, communication, and employee wellbeing while exercising caution on permanent structural changes.

Global: Pay Transparency Legislation

Governments across the world are asking companies to be more transparent about pay. Organizations need to prepare for a new wave of pay transparency legislation which is sweeping the globe.

Belgium: Update on the government's far-reaching proposed reforms

Belgium's proposed labor law, tax and pension reforms are in various stages of enactment, as the government aims to strengthen its business climate while reducing the size of its budget deficit.

India: Long-awaited labor codes in effect

India's labor code overhaul includes major changes in pay and benefits, such as employer-funded annual employee health checkups, pay structure shifts and expanded protections for gig workers.

Italy: New rules for automatic enrollment in pension funds

To boost pension plan participation, new private-sector employees will be automatically enrolled in a designated fund unless they opt for an alternative within the first 60 days of employment.

France: 2026 social security financing law brings several benefit and contribution changes

French Parliament approves the 2026 social security budget, which suspends controversial pension reforms, boosts employer contributions for certain dismissals and introduces paid birth leave.

Turkey: Planned launch of new retirement system and amendments to social security law

Turkey's planned social security reforms for 2026 would bring new requirements for employers, with mandatory employer contributions and an increased contribution cap to help shore up the system.

Taiwan: Measures to attract foreign workers include improved pension coverage

Taiwan aims to attract more foreign workers, in part by improving pension coverage for foreign professionals and manual workers.

Explaining Ireland's Auto-Enrolment savings system

With Ireland's new auto-enrolment retirement savings system due to begin operating in January 2026, what are the key issues employers need to consider in advance of AE going live, and how can they inform their employees of their options?

United Kingdom: Pension Risk Transfer Webcast 2026

In this webcast, our risk transfer specialists are joined by special guest speakers to share valuable insights for trustees and sponsors navigating the evolving market in the year ahead.

Netherlands: The impact of the Dutch pension reform

Access our latest webcast recording, offering expert guidance on what pension funds and direct insured pension plans need to be doing, to ensure they are ready for the new Dutch pension legislation.

Germany: Die bAV im Wandel – Mit innovativen Lösungen zukunftssicher aufgestellt

Der demografische und wirtschaftliche Wandel stellt die bAV vor neue Herausforderungen. In einem Interview erklärt Hanne Borst, Head of Retirement bei WTW, wie Rentnergesellschaften Lösungen bieten.Innovative Solution, text in German.

Global DC Peer Study

In collaboration with LifeSight, the Thinking Ahead Institute 2025 Global DC Peer Study explores current and emerging global best practice among DC organisations.