Starting to retire at 70 is causing a stir in Germany

According to the report, the 13-member expert panel will debate this proposal at its next meeting next Monday. The increase to 70 is supposed to be achieved with two measures in particular. For one thing, through Discounts at an earlier retirement, and in return the financial incentive “very generous” for staying in the job for a longer period of time. In addition, private and company pension provision should be more strongly supported by shares.

30 percent of all social spending

Currently, employers, employees and the federal government as a whole pay far more than 408 billion euros to the coffers of the statutory pension insurers. That is already around 30 percent of all social spending. The trend is increasing. That’s why the Federal Republic was introduced some time ago Pension at 67 years old decided that this starting age will be gradually reached by 2031.

And according to the Social Democrats, it should stay that way. Because raising the threshold means nothing other than one Pension reductionsaid SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorfwho belongs to the left wing of the party. Critics of the proposed tightening also point out that a blanket increase in the retirement age different loads not taken into account in the individual professional sectors.

Parts of the SPD coalition partner see it completely differently. Johannes Winkel of the “Young Union” about has been calling for more courageous people for months Reform stepsBlack-Red’s current plans would be at the expense of the younger generation. And then further towards the social democracies: “The SPD in particular is doing politics,” as if demographic change didn’t exist, “that is far from any reality.“

Both Greens However, one is more amenable to this argument. “The Life expectancy will continue to rise in the foreseeable future. Isn’t it then conceivable to spend part of the life gained in working life? We should think about that,” says Green Party leader Felix Banaszak.

If the retirement age becomes 70, Germany would follow the Danish model: This project was gradually launched there in May of the previous year – by 2040, all employees will have to work until they reach their seventh decade.