Trade union CNV opposes pension age rise

Wednesday 10 June 2009

The CNV trade union federation, which represents some 340,000 workers, has come out against government plans to raise the pension age from 65 to 67.

Such a move would be 'unacceptable' while so many older people were not in work, CNV chairman René Paas was quoted as saying by Nos tv.

The cabinet wants to increase the retirement age in order to keep the state pension system affordable. But at this year's spring talks with ministers it was agreed that unions and employers had until October 1 to come up with alternatives.

An increase in the state pension age would only be possible when six out of every 10 people aged 60 to 65 are in work, Paas said.

Early retirement

Currently, just one in five people over the age of 60 is still in work. This is largely due to the popularity of early retirement schemes, launched in the 1980s when labour was plentiful and youth unemployment was a key political issue.

Unions and employers are due to discuss the retirement age at formal talks on Friday, Nos says.

Earlier this year, the FNV trade union federation, the biggest in the country with 1.3 million members, said it was opposed to an increase in the pension age.

© DutchNews.nl

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