The chairwoman of the German Federation of Trade Unions, Yasmin Fahimi, considers the promise to keep the pension level stable at 48 percent until 2040 to be inadequate. “At least it’s the right signal. But actually it would require a permanent commitment. Then the generational contract will work,” Fahimi told “Bild am Sonntag”. By permanently she means “forever.” The DGB boss also considers the 48 percent pension level to be too low. “I would also find 50 percent quite appropriate,” she emphasized.
The pension level indicates what percentage of the current average wage someone who has always worked at the average wage for exactly 45 years receives as a pension. With the pension package presented a few days ago, the federal government wants to initially secure the 48 percent level until 2040. In 2035, the government in office should present a report on how it can be maintained from 2040.
Fahimi also demanded that civil servants, self-employed people and politicians also have to pay into pension insurance, commonly known as citizens’ insurance. “That would significantly stabilize the insurance systems,” said Fahimi. You could start with those who are now being newly appointed civil servants.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil is open to broadening the basis for statutory pension insurance. “For example, I think it’s very good that things are on a broader footing,” the SPD politician said on RTL/ntv’s “ Frühstart ” program on Wednesday and emphasized: “We will also discuss in Germany how we can achieve this in the long term also include other groups in the protection of the statutory pension insurance.”
