Germany's retirement age hike to 70 sparks fierce backlash from unions
Oliver Ruhnert, general secretary of the BSW, has sharply criticised proposals to raise Germany's retirement age to 70. He called the idea 'outrageous' and accused the government's pension commission of pushing an unacceptable policy. His comments come amid reports that officials are considering the change as part of wider retirement reforms.
Ruhnert condemned the suggestion as a 'scandal', arguing it would amount to a 'stealth cut' in retirement benefits for millions. He also attacked the Social Democrats (SPD), claiming they had predictably 'caved in' on the issue. His opposition extends to any further increase beyond the current age of 67, which is already being phased in by 2029.
Instead, he proposed Germany adopt a system similar to Austria's, where the retirement age remains at 65. He highlighted Austria's broader base of contributors—including the self-employed and civil servants—as a key reason for its success. The country's average retirement pension for new retirees is around €1,500 per month, compared to Germany's €1,550, despite Austria's lower retirement age.
Ruhnert called for a unified, solidarity-based retirement system in Germany. Under his plan, everyone—including civil servants, ministers, and lawmakers—would pay into the same fund. He argued this would create a fairer and more sustainable model for future retirees.
The debate follows years of gradual increases in Germany's retirement age, which began under Angela Merkel's government. While Austria's system has remained stable at 65 for men and is slowly equalising for women, Germany's current reforms will see the age rise to 67 by 2029. Ruhnert's proposals aim to halt further increases and reshape the funding structure instead.
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