We have looked at new pension plan models. We really have to give this some thought.
In terms of defined benefit plans, as we know them, many women currently contribute to such plans. Yet, as you mentioned, returns under those plans were very low during the economic crisis. As a result, the funds accumulated by women workers have dropped considerably. The large defined benefit plans have also seen some pretty tough times during the crisis, particularly in companies verging on bankruptcy or experiencing financial difficulties.
We are currently analyzing new models. These plans fall somewhere in the middle, in the sense that they are a little less risky. Risk management is tighter, but it is still possible for risks to be shared by both workers and employers. We may want to look at less risky plans that have better risk management and better governance. One option would be hybrid models that fall somewhere in between defined contribution and defined benefit plans.
We are also of the view that small company plans will be much more at risk if the company has financial problems. It would be better to bring in a plan that covers a large number of companies working in the same business or industry. That way, the risks could be shared by a larger number of companies. Those are some of the avenues we have been exploring in seeking new tools.