Help us pursue employer laggards says Cbus

7 March 2017
| By Mike |
image
image
expand image

Superannuation funds can and should be allowed to play a greater role in collecting unpaid superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions directly from employers, according to major building and construction industry fund Cbus.

Cbus, which found itself in trouble for providing member data to the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) in relation to employer SG non-payment, pointed out that it had in place its own trust deed which requiring employers to make monthly SG payments.

However, it told the Parliamentary Committee inquiring into SG non-payment, that even this was imperfect and it agreed with the analysis that there should be greater liaison between the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and superannuation funds to assist in early detection and information sharing.

“Our knowledge of the industry and constant interaction with employers give us a much better chance of collecting unpaid super than many of the individuals who experience it,” Cbus said. “However, we do not have a direct, clear, enforceable mechanism for doing so, both in cases where the employer is not subject to the terms of the trust deed and where an employer becomes insolvent.”

“When an insolvency practitioner is involved they are often reluctant to liaise with funds due to perceived privacy issues; and where the ATO issues a proof of debt this takes precedence over the fund’s actions.”

“Super funds can, and should, be allowed to play a greater role in collecting unpaid super directly, particularly where employees do not have the time or understanding to pursue it themselves,” the Cbus submission said.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 4 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 4 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 4 months ago

A major super fund has defended its use of private markets in a submission to ASIC, asserting that appropriate governance and information-sharing practices are present in...

2 days 1 hour ago

A member body representing some prominent wealth managers is concerned super funds’ dominance is sidelining small companies in capital markets....

2 days 22 hours ago

While the latest quarterly CPI print exceeded expectations, most economists still anticipate a rate cut, especially amid growing downside risks to global growth stemming ...

2 days 22 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND