Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Automatic Enrolment (Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 and shall come into operation on 6th April 2013.

(2) In this Order any reference to a numbered section is a reference to the section of the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 bearing that number.

Increase or decrease of amounts

2.—(1) In sections 3(1)(c)(4) and 5(1)(c) (automatic enrolment and automatic re-enrolment) for “£8,105” substitute “£9,440”.

(2) In section 13(1)(5) (qualifying earnings)—

(a)in paragraph (a) for “£5,564” substitute “£5,668”;

(b)in paragraph (b) for “£42,475” substitute “£41,450”.

Rounding of figures

3.  For the purposes of sections 3(6B)(6), 5(7B) and 13(2) (automatic enrolment, automatic re-enrolment and qualifying earnings), in the case of a pay reference period of a length specified in the first row of the Table, the rounded figure in respect of the provision mentioned in the first column of the Table is that which appears below the pay reference period which corresponds to that provision.

Revocation

4.  Article 3 of the Automatic Enrolment (Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012(7) is revoked.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which corresponds to an Order (S.I. 2013/667) made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under sections 14(2) and 15A(1) of the Pensions Act 2008, substitutes the amounts of the automatic enrolment and re-enrolment earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band, and specifies rounded figures for certain pay reference periods.

Article 2 amends the amounts in sections 3(1)(c), 5(1)(c) and 13(1) of the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (“the Act”). The amount specified in section 3(1)(c) is the amount of earnings that a jobholder must receive before an employer is subject to the duty imposed by section 3 (automatic enrolment) in relation to that jobholder. The amount in section 5(1)(c) is the amount of earnings a jobholder must receive before an employer is subject to the duty imposed by section 5 (automatic re-enrolment) in relation to that jobholder. Section 13 of the Act provides that a person’s qualifying earnings are earnings of more than the amount specified in section 13(1)(a) and not more than the amount specified in section 13(1)(b).

Article 3 specifies rounded figures for the purposes of sections 3(6B), 5(7B) and 13(2) of the Act. The amounts specified in sections 3(1)(c), 5(1)(c) and 13(1) of the Act, and amended by Article 2, are in relation to a pay reference period of 12 months. Sections 3(6B), 5(7B) and 13(2) provide respectively that where the pay reference period is less or more than 12 months, the amounts specified in sections 3(1)(c), 5(1)(c) and 13(1) apply as if they were proportionately less or more. This Article provides rounded figures in respect of specified pay reference periods other than 12 months.

Article 4 makes a revocation.