Miscellaneous
Employment rights and protections in connection with consultation
17. The Schedule contains provision as to employment rights and protections which, in connection with consultation under these Regulations, apply to the employees of an employer in relation to an occupational or personal pension scheme.
Exclusivity of remedy
18.—(1) The remedy for a failure to comply with any obligations under regulations 6 to 16 in respect of any proposal or decision to make a listed change is by way of complaint to the Regulator.
(2) A complaint may be made by—
(a)any representative of affected members who falls within regulation 12(2)(a) or (3) or 13(2) (including any such representative who is not consulted), and
(b)any active or prospective member of an occupational or personal pension scheme who considers that he is or may be an affected member.
Powers of the Regulator to waive or relax requirements
19.—(1) The Regulator may by order waive or relax any of the requirements of regulations 6 to 16.
(2) The power under paragraph (1) may be exercised only if the Regulator is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order to protect the interests of the generality of the members of the scheme.
Waiver or relaxation of requirements: amendment of Schedule 2 to the Order
20. In Schedule 2 to the Order (the reserved regulatory functions), after paragraph 44 there shall be added the following—
“PART 5OTHER FUNCTIONS
45. The power to make an order under regulation 19 of the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 to waive or relax any of the requirements of regulations 6 to 16 of those Regulations.”.
Waiver or relaxation of requirements: prescribed regulatory function
21. The Regulator’s power to make an order under regulation 19 to waive or relax any of the requirements of regulations 6 to 16 is prescribed for the purposes of Article 92(5)(u) of the Order (special procedure: applicable cases).