Retiring at 70 would be a 'hard blow,' says German union leader

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has issued a strong warning against any proposal to raise the retirement age to 70, labeling such a move as a "harsh austerity program" rather than a genuine reform. Ernesto Harder, a DGB district chairman, told the "Braunschweiger Zeitung" that this would be a "hard blow" to workers.

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That would be a hard blow.

Harder pointed out that Germany's life expectancy has stagnated for the past 15 years, the same period since the last pension reform raised the retirement age from 65 to 67. He questioned the rationale for further increasing the retirement age when life expectancy is not rising, arguing that many workers in physically demanding industries cannot possibly continue working until 70.

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That is not a reform, that would be a harsh austerity program.

Instead of extending working lives, the DGB proposes increasing contributions to the pension fund. Harder suggested that politicians and entrepreneurs should be included in this increased contribution system. However, the DGB does not advocate for including civil servants in the general pension system, arguing that it would only be beneficial if their conditions were significantly worsened, and that one injustice should not be compensated with another.

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The DGB also represents sectors whose members cannot work until 70 because they would not withstand it physically.