Ministers should take action now to ensure pending cuts in pension pay-outs do not continue, opposition MPs said during a debate on pension funds and reform on Monday night.

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are likely to get smaller pay-outs next year because pension funds have been hit by lower interest rates and the economic downturn.
Ministers, unions and employers have agreed the pension age should be raised from 65 to 67 over the next 18 years but according to D66 and GroenLinks MPs, changes should be made now.
Shortfall
‘The pension shortfall of €200bn is too big to be counteracted through current legislation. Otherwise pension funds will have to keep on making cuts and both young and old will be left with a poor pension,’ GroenLinks MP Jesse Klaver is quoted as saying.
D66 wants to start increasing the state pension age by three months a year from next January.
The cabinet, supported by the Labour party PvdA, say the priority now is to put last year’s pension reform plan into action. MPs will debate the first draft legislation based on the agreement later this week.