Vote on March 3: Broad alliance against pension initiative

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On Tuesday, committee members in Bern presented their arguments for saying no to the pension initiative to the media. A unilateral increase in the retirement age does not seem appropriate at this time, reminded Center Council of States Erich Ettlin (OW) of the AHV reform, which was only narrowly approved in 2022 when the retirement age for women was increased to 65 years. Parliament has already instructed the Federal Council to submit a proposal for further AHV reform for the period from 2030 to 2040, Ettlin explains. “The Federal Council must develop a balanced solution based on various measures.”

Thomas Bläsi, SVP national councilor from Geneva, admitted that the initiative highlighted a real problem. A further increase in the retirement age after the AHV reform would amount to a double punishment for women. The initiative was poorly timed and a majority would be very difficult to achieve.

SVP for fixed retirement age

What is also disturbing for Bläsi is that the initiative would link the retirement age to an indexation anchored in the constitution and not to a vote of those entitled to vote. The SVP is in favor of a clearly defined retirement age, which can then be adjusted upwards or downwards depending on demographic developments.

GLP national councilor Melanie Mettler (BE) added that a higher retirement reference age alone is not sufficient for balanced pension financing. Rich people in particular took early retirement. The initiative would therefore mainly affect those who cannot afford early retirement. That is neither efficient nor fair.

Burden for older workers

Citizens sit side by side with the unions in the committee: the pension initiative ignores the reality on the labor market, said SP State Councilor Pierre-Yves Maillard (VD), president of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB). People over 55 are often the first to be fired and finding a job is difficult for them.

The top trade unionist also fears that a higher retirement reference age would jeopardize early retirement models for strenuous jobs – for example for construction workers. If the pension age is linked to the constitution, parliament can no longer decide on exceptions and deviations alone.

Retirement planning is becoming more difficult

From the committee’s point of view, life expectancy alone should not determine the retirement age. The number of healthy retirement years must also play a role. Income differences have consequences for health, says Greenland Councilor Léonore Porchet (VD), co-chairman of the Travail Suisse employee association. People with low incomes have worse health than people with high wages.

Travail Suisse president Adrian Wüthrich warned of difficult retirement planning if it were only known five years in advance when the retirement age would be reached. Because the average life expectancy of 65 year olds fluctuates. This has been shown by pandemics or a flu wave. The initiative would leave behind an important achievement of the welfare state, he warned. Namely that people no longer have to work until they die, but can spend their last years in safety and dignity. (SDA)

Source:Blick