New pension scheme Forward as of 1 January 2027
- Planning
- About the new pension scheme
- Important documents (including transition plan, implementation plan and Q&A)
- News
- Staying informed?
Planning
On 1 July 2023, the new Dutch Pension Act (Wet toekomst pensioenen) took effect. As a result, almost all pension funds in the Netherlands will move to a new pension scheme. So too will Forward. (Progress, the other part of the Unilever Pension Fund will not get a new scheme).
In the summer of 2024, Unilever and the trade unions FNV and CNV reached an agreement on the outlines of the new pension scheme. Those agreements have since been elaborated in the transition plan. Members of the trade unions voted on the draft plan in December 2024. The VUG (Association of Unilever Pensioners) also provided input on the plan. At the beginning of January 2025, Unilever and the trade unions FNV and CNV presented the final transition plan to the Unilever Pension Fund. We have published the transition plan on this website (see 'Important documents' at the bottom of this page) and sent a letter to all our participants about it.
We find the transition plan feasible and balanced, we have elaborated the new scheme in an implementation plan (see below). In December 2025, we submitted the implementation plan to regulator DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank) for approval. The related communication plan is submitted to regulator AFM (Autoriteit Financiële Markten). After approval, we will implement the new scheme.
In 2026, we will inform you about what exactly the new pension scheme entails for you personally. The new pension scheme will start on 1 January 2027.
What will not change?
As an employee, you will still be depositing money together with Unilever for your pension. That money will - as now - be invested for you.
You still choose when you want your pension to start. That pension will still be paid out for as long as you live, no matter how old you become.
In case of early death during employment, there is still a life-long partner pension for your partner and a temporary orphan pension for any children.
In case of incapacity for work, your pension accrual will continue free of charge. Above a certain salary threshold, there is also a supplement to the WIA (government disability benefit).
What does change?
For as long as you are not yet retired, you will get more insight into how your personal capital is developing.
Pensions will be increased earlier than now if the economy and investments are doing well. On the other hand, pensions may also be reduced earlier.
Employees can - from a certain salary threshold - put less money into their pension (in exchange for a higher salary now).
For more specific information, see the dedicated pages for:
- Active participants
- Former participants (left service, but not yet retired)
- Pensioners
- Implementation plan (only in Dutch), summary of implementation plan (expected publication: January 2026)
- Summary of communication plan (expected publication: January 2026)
- Q&A New Pension Scheme Forward (December 2025)
- Transition plan (only in Dutch - including addendum, added in January 2026), summary transition plan, one pager new Unilever pension scheme (January 2025)
- First information from Unilever and trade unions FNV and CNV for employees (December 2024)
News*
- Survey Risk and pension: what do you find acceptable?
20 June 2025 - Update new scheme Forward
26 June 2024 - Forward pension will change
4 August 2023
* The news pages are in Dutch. Please refer to our Instructions for translation of websites to read them in your own language.
Staying informed?
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Check or submit your email address directly in Mijn Pensioen, your personal, digital environment.
Publication date: 2 December 2024
Last modified: 6 January 2026