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Pensions and work secretary James Purnell claims millions of people will benefit from changes to auto-enrolment pension schemes which are due to come into effect in 2012.
He said more people will be able to save for their retirement for the first time.
The Pensions Bill 2007 proposes automatic enrolment into a qualifying workplace scheme or personal accounts for all workers between 22 and state pension age, who earn more than £5,035 a year (2006-07 rates).
Automatic enrolment into trust-based pension schemes is consistent with European consumer protection directives, the European Commission confirmed this week, meaning the bill can go ahead.
Pensions reform minister Mike O'Brien said: "Automatic enrolment is key to combating the inertia that prevents people from saving and I am pleased that millions of people who work for an employer who offers a Workplace Personal Pension will be able to benefit from this important social reform."
However, an investment firm has warned that the changes could amount to nothing if other aspects of pensions are not clarified.
Fidelity president Simon Fraser told Personneltoday.com that parts of the new rules could be used by employers to alter company pension schemes to the disadvantage of current employees.
