Polish 'Lewica' Party Revives Push for Service Pensions with Gender-Equalizing Bill

The Polish political party 'Lewica' (The Left) is preparing to introduce a new legislative proposal for "service pensions," a benefit that would allow individuals to retire based on the number of years they have worked, rather than solely on reaching the statutory retirement age. This initiative aims to address what the party describes as an unfulfilled promise from previous governments.

Currently, Poland's retirement age is 60 for women and 65 for men. A previous bill, introduced in February 2024, proposed allowing women to retire after 35 years of contributions and men after 40 years, provided they met a minimum pension threshold. However, this bill stalled in a parliamentary committee, prompting Lewica to pursue a new approach.

The key difference in Lewica's upcoming proposal is the aim to equalize the required years of service for both women and men. While the exact number of years is still under discussion within the party, sources suggest that 35 years is a preferred target, although a compromise figure, such as 37 years for both genders, is also being considered. A final decision on the proposal's specifics is expected on September 4th during a club meeting.

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The decision on this matter is expected to be made on September 4th at an away meeting of the club.