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Now it is clear: the Federal Council wants to save money on widows’ pensions. The planned revision will give widowers equal treatment, but at the expense of women. The situation for widows is getting worse and hundreds of millions of francs are being saved. This is despite the fact that the AHV reform that will come into effect next year is already at the expense of women.
A women’s alliance is now taking countermeasures and launching a manifesto for better pensions for women. “We oppose a further reduction in widows’ pensions,” says Unia boss Vania Alleva (54), who helped launch the manifesto. “Instead, we argue for an improvement through the introduction of a 13th AHV pension.”
Dreifuss wants AHV that guarantees a living wage
The first signatories include approximately sixty prominent women from politics, business, culture, sports and society. This also applies to former SP councilor Ruth Dreifuss (83), who, as Minister of Social Affairs, campaigned for education and healthcare credits to improve women’s pensions. For them, the AHV is the social heart of their pension provision.
“Reforms are always necessary to achieve the constitutional goal of an AHV that guarantees a standard of living,” Dreifuss told Blick. A 13th AHV pension is a small step in this direction. “We need to take this step now – not just for women!” A higher old-age pension is especially important for medium-sized companies, she emphasizes.
Ex-Miss Switzerland for 13th AHV pension
Former Miss Switzerland and actress Melanie Winiger (44) also supports the manifesto. “An increase in the AHV pension is urgently needed – especially for our mothers and grandmothers who have done so much childcare and care work,” she explains her efforts. “Because this important, but unpaid work now means that they are poor in old age. That has to change.”
Footballer Sarah Akanji (30) is also committed to a better AHV pension. “A large part of unpaid women’s work is still taken for granted and not valued, even though we as a society depend on it,” says the former SP canton councilor in Zurich. “With a strong AHV and fair pensions – also for women – we can at least counteract this imbalance to some extent.”
AHV is important for part-time work
Support also comes from the head of the nursing professional association, Yvonne Ribi (47): “Particularly in nursing, many women work part-time and for low wages,” she says. “Good pension provision is all the more important – and a 13th AHV pension is an important building block.”
And the school director, Dagmar Rösler (51), emphasizes that many teachers work part-time because many of them still have to take on a large part of the often unpaid family care. “This is also due to the still unsatisfactory situation of external childcare,” says Rösler.
After the increase in the retirement age for women and the planned deterioration of widows’ pensions, the goal now is to improve the pension situation for women, Rösler said. “The 13th AHV pension can provide targeted assistance to women.”
The women’s manifesto also receives support from professional cyclist Marlen Reusser (32), the silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Or from influencer Morena Diaz (30), comedian Rebekka Lindauer, gender researcher Franziska Schutzbach (45) and economist Mascha. Madorin (77). Numerous female politicians have also signed the manifesto, such as SP co-chair Mattea Meyer (36) and SP women’s leader Tamara Funiciello (33).
The defeat has not yet been digested
For the women’s alliance, the manifesto is the starting signal for the voting campaign for the popular initiative for a 13th AHV pension, which will go to the polls on March 3, 2024. It is intended to give impetus to the yes side, especially among women.
Many people have not yet digested the fact that a majority of men overruled women in the AHV reform and thus imposed a higher retirement age.
“This sentiment still hurts many women today,” says Alleva. It is now even more important that women’s work is recognized – also financially, with better pensions. The trade unionist makes it clear: “The initiative for a 13th AHV pension is the fastest way to achieve this.”
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
