BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – According to a survey, the vast majority of the population believes a fundamental pension reform is necessary – but trust in the federal government in this regard is low. This emerges from a survey conducted by the Civey Institute for the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Accordingly, 82 percent believe that a fundamental reform of the statutory pension is necessary. 9 percent say no – another 9 percent are undecided. Only 20 percent trust a black-red federal government to initiate such a fundamental pension reform. 69 percent do not trust black and red to do this – 11 percent are undecided.
Retirement based on the number of years of contributions?
60 percent thought it would be right if retirement was not based on age but on the number of years of contributions. 24 percent are against a corresponding proposal – 16 percent are undecided. 81 percent are in favor of civil servants, self-employed people and members of parliament also paying into statutory pension insurance. 12 percent are against it, 7 percent are undecided.
Economics professor Jens Südekum had suggested that retirement should no longer be linked to age, but rather to the number of years of contributions. The proposal came primarily from Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) to allow civil servants, members of parliament and the self-employed to pay in in order to improve the income of the statutory pension insurance.
Civey surveyed around 5,000 German citizens aged 18 and over online from December 16th to December 22nd. The results are representative taking into account the statistical error of 2.6 percentage points.
Pension Commission should propose a major step
Before Christmas, the Federal Council cleared the way for the black-red coalition’s pension package. The law to stabilize the pension level and to fully equalize child-rearing periods can therefore come into force on January 1st after it has been issued by the Federal President. Two days earlier, the Federal Cabinet had set up a pension commission. It is intended to make suggestions as to how retirement provision can be secured and an overburdening of contributors and taxpayers can be avoided – even after the increasing number of baby boomers have retired./bg/DP/he