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Title
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Equality without improvement? A case study of the impact of the Belgian unified status among blue-collar and white-collar workers on their occupational pensions
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Author
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Abstract
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| The long-standing EU acquis of equal pay between male and female workers still proves to be a source of inspiration in the fight against discrimination, even in matters beyond the EU’s competence. This article deals with differences in status between blue- and white-collar workers, which have been haunting many Member States even as technological progress erodes its justification. Although this ground was never protected by EU law, a case study of the Belgian unified status with regard to occupational pensions (the second pension pillar), clearly shows the impact of the jurisprudence of the CJEU. In line with this EU case law, there is no requirement to grant the most beneficial pension scheme to all employees, which could lead to equal, but nevertheless very modest occupational pensions. Based on the preliminary results, we can predict that the Belgian unified status will have a positive effect on the number of blue- and white-collar workers affiliated to a pension scheme. It is, however, unlikely that the high level of benefits of the most generous pension schemes will be retained after harmonisation, considering the financial impact on the employer. It is therefore to be expected that the unified status will indeed lead to equal occupational pension schemes between blue- and white-collar workers, but fail to act as a lever to improve the quality of the second pension pillar in Belgium. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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European journal of social security. - The Hague, 1999, currens
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Publication
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The Hague
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Kluwer Law International
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2021
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ISSN
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1388-2627
[print]
2399-2948
[online]
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DOI
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10.1177/13882627211031932
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Volume/pages
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23
:3
(2021)
, p. 211-231
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Article Reference
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13882627211031932
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ISI
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000683937200001
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Medium
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E-only publicatie
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
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