Rentenreform: Droht bald eine Kündigung statt der Altersteilzeit?

Düsseldorf - Among the 33 recommendations from the Rentenkommission, recommendation number 13, which was particularly controversial, suggested raising the age for an early retirement allowance from 55 to 58 years, and then gradually increasing it to the retirement age. Furthermore, the Rentenkommission stated that "early retirement in the block model should no longer be possible."

These changes are intended to reduce incentives for early retirement and encourage more older people to remain in employment. However, the proposal has barely entered the public debate so far, while discussions about the planned abolition of the early retirement without contribution (commonly referred to as "retirement at 63") have been more vociferous.

So have plans for a new capital pension, which also caused a stir. Yet, the significant reduction in early retirement would have far-reaching consequences. The model currently allows for a significantly earlier retirement start with relatively small financial drawbacks and is widely used. What would the plans mean, and how could major discrepancies be avoided?

Already, criticism of the plans is loud, if restrained. Barbara Resch, District Leader of the IG Metall trade union in Baden-Württemberg, says that in the transformation of industry, the block model early retirement is crucial to make necessary adjustments socially acceptable. "It is the most socially beneficial tool we have in industrial transformation," she adds. "Abolishing this instrument risks much harsher cuts."