Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall critically welcomes the federal government’s pension package II. Christiane Benner, first chairwoman of the union, said: “The pension package is a small ray of hope in uncertain times. The federal government’s agreement is a contribution to greater trust in politics. Nevertheless, this is not a solution to the many problems of old-age security.” Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil fought bravely against resistance in the coalition.
IG Metall looks positively on a bit more reliability and trust in the statutory pension system with a stabilized pension level. According to Hans-Jürgen Urban, IG Metall board member responsible for social policy, pension policy is taking a “significant step forward”: “The decline in pensions has stopped for the time being. “The federal government is fulfilling an important promise from the coalition agreement, but unfortunately only partially: What the traffic light parties promised as ‘permanent’ has now been given an expiry date of 2039.”
Criticism of generational capital
IG Metall sees the new “generational capital” as a step into the unknown. Urban: “Generational capital does not make old-age security in Germany any safer. It’s a credit-financed bet on unclear future returns. Generational capital brings pensions closer to the risks of the financial markets.”
Further need for reform towards solidarity-based employment insurance
According to IG Metall board member Urban, there is still a lot to be done with a view to solidarity-based and future-proof pension provision: “It will not work without the introduction of employment insurance, flexible exit options and an appropriate level of security.” IG Metall is calling for the restructuring of the statutory pension Solidarity employment insurance, which also includes the self-employed and civil servants.
Employer representatives should not shirk their responsibility by calling for lower contribution rates. Urban: “Moderately higher contributions are always better than privatizing the costs of aging society.”
IG Metall rejects discussions about a higher retirement age. “This is completely disconnected from the working realities and stresses of the employees,” said Urban. According to Urban, the welfare state is called upon to fulfill its promise of security, especially in times of profound upheaval and economic crisis.
IG Metall’s pension concept: igmetall.de/rentenkonzept