Still Stuck in the Gap: Pensions Auto-enrolment from a gender and care lens
This TASC report for the National Women’s Council examines Ireland’s proposed auto-enrolment pension scheme, set for 2025, through a gender and care lens. While aiming to boost pension coverage and adequacy, the scheme risks deepening the gender pension gap by tying future pensions to lifetime earnings—disadvantaging women who take on unpaid care work.
To tackle this, the report advocates for a fairer pensions model that values both paid work and care. Key recommendations include cultural shifts in caregiving roles, better workplace flexibility, universal childcare, and a robust, universal state pension benchmarked to average earnings. These steps can ensure everyone enjoys financial security in retirement, regardless of their care or employment history.