Press Release No. 01/2012 IG Metall Calls for a Suspension of the “Retirement at 67” Plan – Hans-Jürgen Urban: “We need an honest...

Frankfurt/Main – IG Metall has reaffirmed its opposition to the retirement age of 67 and, in light of the dispute within the federal government, has called for a labor market policy review of the increase in the retirement age. “The federal government must present an honest assessment of the opportunities for older workers in the labor market. Until then, the retirement age of 67 must be suspended. The Bavarian lion Seehofer must now show that he doesn’t just roar, but also takes action,” demanded Hans-Jürgen Urban, executive board member and social policy expert at IG Metall, on Monday in Frankfurt.

It has long been known that only a small proportion of workers today remain healthy enough to work until retirement. Furthermore, older workers still have virtually no chance of finding regular employment. For this reason, raising the retirement age is nothing less than a de facto reduction in pension benefits. “We need age-appropriate jobs and new options for a fair transition into retirement. This is the only way to prevent demographic change from becoming an unreasonable social and health burden on workers,” said Urban.

Instead of a rigid age limit, pension law must provide exit options for workers who are no longer able to continue working at the end of a long working life. These would include, for example, access to a full pension after 45 years of insurance contributions and after 40 years of insurance contributions starting at age 60, a new partial retirement program, and improved access to disability pensions. IG Metall will vigorously advocate for models of a flexible transition to retirement.

Workers are being squeezed from both sides. On the one hand, working conditions have deteriorated due to the expansion of shift work, increasing stress, and a frantic pace of work. “Older workers in particular are often no longer able to withstand the growing pressure in companies; at the same time, the options under pension law for exiting the workforce have been cut back by the current government as well as by previous administrations,” Urban criticized.

Urban also directed criticism at employers. “They applaud the extension of working life but do far too little to improve working conditions.” This is unacceptable, he said. IG Metall will not relieve employers of their responsibility to provide age-appropriate workplaces in their companies.