Mattle Proposes Retirement Only After 45 Years of Work, Earliest at 65

Tirol Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) has put forward a proposal for pension reform, suggesting that individuals should only be eligible for retirement after demonstrating at least 45 years of work history. Under this plan, the earliest possible retirement age would be 65, but this is contingent upon meeting the extensive work-year requirement.

Those who do not accumulate 45 years of documented employment would be required to work beyond the age of 65. Mattle indicated that childcare years would be counted as work time for parents, acknowledging the contributions of those who take time off for family responsibilities.

This proposal echoes a recent initiative by Ingrid Korosec, chairwoman of the Austrian Seniors' Association (Seniorenbund), who also expressed openness to raising the retirement age. Korosec previously suggested that the retirement eligibility should be based on years of service rather than biological age, proposing a flexible range of 40, 42, or 45 years of work. However, the SPÖ Pensioners' Association has rejected such proposals.