Will the retirement age be lowered for men? A surprising declaration by the Ministry of Labor
If we were to permanently equalize the retirement age, we would have to strive to lower it for men rather than raise it for women, said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, on Radio Zet.
The Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy was a guest of Radio Zet on Thursday. Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk was asked, among others, Should the retirement age be equalized for men and women? – The retirement age certainly should not be raised. Incentives yes, coercion no. I am a supporter of introducing such labor market and social policies so that as many people as possible can and want to work longer. But it didn’t have to be done by law – replied the head of the Ministry of Labor.
Minister of Labor on equalizing the retirement age
Referring to the recent opinion of the Left’s candidate for president, Magdalena Biejat, who is in favor of equalizing the retirement age, Dziemianowicz-Bąk emphasized that she supports her postulates and agrees that “we should strive to ensure that as many people as possible want, can, and are able to work as long as possible because we need it.”
– The Polish economy needs people to work, this can be achieved by pursuing a labor market policy that will encourage, motivate, and not statutorily force people beyond retirement age to continue professional activity – said the Minister of Labor.
– If we were to permanently equalize the retirement age, we would have to strive to lower it for men rather than raise it for women – she added, repeating that “raising the retirement age is not an option at all.”
Let us remind you that the retirement age for women is 60 years and for men – 65 years. In 2012, Donald Tusk’s cabinet introduced a pension reform, which assumed a gradual extension and equalization of the retirement age for women and men to 67 years. The reform was withdrawn five years later by the PiS government, as a result of which the old retirement age was restored.
A survey by SW Research for “Wprost” conducted last year shows that nearly 47 percent of Poles want to equalize the retirement age, while 42.5 percent are of the opposite opinion. Every tenth survey participant has no opinion on this matter.
Will there be 1000 plus?
The Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy was also asked whether it is possible to increase the 800 plus benefit to PLN 1,000. – There is no ongoing work on 800 plus. Neither liquidation nor any reforms – Dziemianowicz-Bąk replied.
