30.Section 3 establishes that the effective date of automatic enrolment must be the first day on which the jobholder becomes eligible. Section 4, however, provides for the possibility of delaying initial automatic enrolment in circumstances described in regulations. The period of permitted deferral will be established in regulations.
31.Employers that are permitted to delay automatic enrolment may be required to ensure that members remain in such a scheme for a prescribed period of time, unless the jobholder leaves that employment or chooses to leave the scheme. This will enable the member to make up pension savings foregone during the initial delay period.
32.The powers conferred by section 4 are exercisable in relation to any automatic enrolment under section 3 and not just enrolment in the initial period of implementation.