Ignoring pension problem is 'anti-social'

Monday 14 September 2009

People who deny that the population is ageing and oppose increasing the state pension age from 65 to 67 are 'anti-social', social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner said on Sunday.

'People who do that are putting their heads in the sand. And that means our social security system is built on quicksand,' Donner said during a debate in Amsterdam on Sunday.

The FNV trade union federation, Socialist Party, anti-immigration PVV and some Labour (PvdA) MPs are opposed to the cabinet's plans.

Donner also said he did not see any merit in allowing people to claim their state pension (AOW) after they had worked a fixed number of years - such as those doing heavy physical labour.

'We already have people who lay cobbles and paving stones who don't make it to 65. That will not change when the pension age is raised to 67,' he said.

The unions and employers organisations have until October 1 to come up with an alternative to the government's plans.

© DutchNews.nl

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