Office of the Superintendent - Pension Commission

OSPC - FAQS - Overview of Manitoba Pension Laws

Eligibility and Membership

1. When am I eligible to join my employer's pension plan?

   Compulsory membership for full-time employees: When a company has a pension plan for a class of employees, the plan must state the date when full-time employees in that class must become members of the plan.

   This date:

   • cannot be more than 30 days after the employee has completed the minimum period of continuous employment required for that class
   • cannot exceed two years of continuous employment.

   Compulsory membership for other employees: When a company has a pension plan for a class of employees, the plan must state the date when non full-time employees in that class must become members of the plan. This also applies to employees who would become a part of the class if he or she were working full time.

   This date cannot be more than 30 days after the employee has:

   • completed the minimum period of continuous employment stated in the plan for that class and cannot exceed two years and

   • met other conditions stated in the plan, which must be one of the following:

     1. The employee has completed, in each of two consecutive calendar years, not less than the number of work hours stated in the plan and cannot exceed 700 hours.
     2. The employee's work has earned, in each of two consecutive calendar years, not less than the percentage of the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings (which is the term used in the Canada Pension Plan that refers to employment earnings on which Canada Pension Plan contributions and benefits are calculated) specified by the plan. This cannot exceed 35 per cent.

     3. The employee has:

        1. completed, in each of two consecutive calendar years, not less than the number of work hours stated in the plan and not more than 700 hours or
        2. earned, in each of two consecutive calendar years, not less than the percentage of the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings stated in the plan and not more than 35 per cent
2. Who is exempt from becoming a member of a company pension plan?

   A pension plan may exempt the following groups. It may also allow them to join the plan voluntarily, if they meet eligibility requirements.

   • Students who are attending a recognized educational institution on a substantially full-time basis.
   • Employees hired before January 1, 1984, or before the pension plan was set up, whichever is later.
   • Members of religious groups whose articles of faith don?t allow them to join a pension plan.
   • Plan members receiving a pension income, who return to work for the same employer, or for another employer who is covered by the same pension plan.

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