EU social affairs ministers yesterday unanimously agreed the terms of a directive which will guarantee supplementary pension entitlements to workers who move to new jobs within the EU, writes Patrick Smyth.

Under the directive, workers will have the same supplementary pension rights whether they move jobs within or without the State. The directive represents an attempt to remove barriers to free movement of labour in the EU. The directive will also ensure that pensions may be paid to those retired abroad and that workers temporarily posted to another member-state retain their right to be part of a pension fund at home.