The head of Employees Switzerland, a union group representing workers in some of Switzerland’s leading export branches, says raising the retirement age in Switzerland is unavoidable, as the state pension fund continues to face major financial pressures.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sb
Español
es
Inevitable aumentar la edad de retiro en Suiza: sindicato
In the newspaper interview, the 58-year-old union leader warned that the first pillar of the country’s pension scheme was in a critical state. He said that even if the ailing old age pension system gets the CHF2 billion ($2 billion) financial boost promised if the corporate tax/pension reform initiative passes on May 19, the federal authorities still predict an accumulated deficit of CHF170 billion by 2045 if no further reforms are undertaken.
Old ways of thinking must be abandoned to ensure sustainable restructuring, said Studer.
“If employees are valued, many are willing to work longer, possibly with a lower workload,” he said. “Most people enjoy their jobs and work in a profession that gives meaning to their lives.”
But he added that certain physically demanding professions, like the construction industry, do not allow people to work until 65. Consequently, it’s important to offer a more flexible retirement age, said Studer.
The Employees Switzerland umbrella group represents 60 staff associations in some of Switzerland’s leading export branches – engineering, electrical and metal industries, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. It has more than 16,000 members.
swissinfo.ch
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Go to war or stay put? Ukrainian men in Switzerland face fresh dilemmas
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss to reduce administrative burden on farms from 2026
This content was published on
From 2026, the number of inspections of farms is to be reduced, without any loss of quality, said economics minister Guy Parmelin.
Swiss insurance boss proposes Singapore-style healthcare system
This content was published on
CEO of Swiss health insurer Sanitas has said that healthcare costs could be reduced if Switzerland were to follow the Singapore model.
Swiss minister talks crime and security in visit to the Netherlands
This content was published on
Swiss justice minister Beat Jans spent two days in the Netherlands discussing security, police cooperation and justice with international bodies.
Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
This content was published on
Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).
Lilo Baur wins Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts
This content was published on
The Swiss actress and theatre director Lilo Baur has received this year's Swiss Grand Prix for Performing Arts, also known as the Hans Reinhart Ring.
Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
This content was published on
A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.
This content was published on
The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault
This content was published on
A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.
Majority of Swiss opt for early retirement, says survey
This content was published on
Six people out of ten (58%) stop working before the official retirement age in Switzerland, reports the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper.
As Switzerland ages, the pension system gets stretched
This content was published on
2016 is an important year for the future of the Swiss old age insurance scheme. Parliament is in the midst of discussing the “Retirement 2020” project, and at the end of September, voters will have their say on a people’s initiative that would require a 10% increase in the amount that pensioners receive from the…
This content was published on
The Swiss cabinet and parliament are wrangling over reforms to the country's pension scheme. How does the current system work?
Corporate tax and pension reform: a complex two-headed vote
This content was published on
Two years after a corporate tax overhaul was rejected by voters, the issue is back before the electorate – this time linked to pension reform.
This content was published on
Swiss voters have thrown out a sweeping reform of old age pensions in the latest unsuccessful attempt to amend the social security system.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.