Page 30 - DIVA_2_2007_No.29

All members have the same
rights. It is amazing when we
go to some countries where the
social security system is weak
or where pension schemes do
not exist, people look at us in
disbelief because they do not
believe that we w'll be able to
pay them a pension. Tahis is so
unusual because they do not
understand the mechanism -
contributions, the inveshnent
of the contributions, the pay-
ments, etc. It is a reflection

sometimes of the little faith
they have in collective arrange-
ments. I think that when these
collective arrangements are
properly managed and super-
vised, this is a wonderful tool
in addition to other human
resource policies and
entitlements.

Q: You have an exeellent
teputation all ovei' t}ie work}
and peo)ile are sa(isfied with
tlie services you provide.
Wliat inore can you ask t'or?

My dream would be for more
people to benefit from this kind
of coverage, because it's clear

that life expectancy is rising
and, withorit proper coverage
Nations, for more peace- believe that the discussions
of old age, a lot of people out-
keeping inissions, for instance, have not been as far reaching
side the {JN are going to expe-

and the UN family of as they would like tliem to
rience problems down the
organizahons is responding. So have been. I believe tliat most
road. I tend to believe that a
the number of einployees is people are quite comfoitable
pension scheme is not a luxury.
mcreasing. Also, as of l witli tlie present sitiiation: the
It is a way for individuals and
Jaiuiaiy 2007, we liave a new Pension Fund is well funded;
groups to plan for the future,
member, IOM-tlie the govemance fiuictions are in
especially for a time when they
Intemational Organization for place and work well; manage-
would no longer be able to
Mig,ation. ment is coinmitted to quality,
woi'k or rely on the family to
timely deliveiy of sei'vices and
provide for their needs.
It is a g+'owing busiiiess. As a on-going improvement of tlie
Pension funds with all their
fully-fianded pension fund way it works. Intemal control
skills, and mechanisms and
(contrary to other pension mechanisms are efficient and
long term reserves, are an
schemes wliicli are managed in with a newly established audit
excellent answer to these
a different inanner, such as coininittee, aii additional layer
issues.
pay-as-you-go-the contribu- of supervision and control has
tions pay for tlie pensions), we just been added. This audit

Q: So it' a cotintry iieeded
liave reserves. Even if tl'iere committee is a new organ
some advice, ivould yoti give
were a decrease iii the number establislied by the Pension
it to them?
of participants in the years to Board; it comes on top of the
come, the Pension %nd would nonn'ial intenial control
Of course! We do that from
not be at risk. meclianisms cai'ried orit by
time to time. Lots ofpeople are
management, the iiitemal audit
interested in knowing how

Q: So peolile s}iould not be and the extemal ariditors. I
these tools can be made availa-
wori'ied at all'? believe that tliis is reassui'ing
ble to otliers. It is a complex
for people.
operahon aiid it reqriires a lot
When it comes to that, ceitain-
of discipline. I worild also say

ly not! However, I tl'iii* it is Q: Do the new NOTh4 meni-
that it requires sh'ong etlffcs.
veiy healthy for the member- bcrs }iave tlie sanie riglits as
slffp to ask qriestions and to tJie ot}iers, even tlieii'
express conceni when tliey t'etirees?
28 2 2007 Dive
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