CNV: two million workers will not make it into retirement | Inland

Reason for the union to call on the government to make haste with schemes that make it possible to stop working earlier. “At least two million workers will not make it into retirement. At the same time, we also have to work longer and longer. This social issue requires a solution that goes beyond the current plastering. It’s five to twelve. If we do nothing, there will soon be a major loss of hundreds of thousands of people who cannot save their pension,” says Patrick Fey, vice-chairman of CNV and pension negotiator.

Fey points out that in the 2019 pension agreement, the social partners agreed on the RVU (Early Retirement Scheme). But 63 percent of the respondents think the net amount (1,200 euros per month) that they have left to stop early is too low. More than half (55 percent) also indicate that their employers are reluctant to send people into retirement earlier,

A quarter of the surveyed members would like to switch to a job with less work, but half of them say that the employer does not want to cooperate. Moreover, according to 77 percent, there would be no possibility of retraining for other types of work. “Many workers are trapped in a job that is too heavy. They cannot make it until their retirement age, but they cannot switch to less demanding work either. Employers must also take action. We call on them to invest in the sustainable employability of their employees. Many employees over the age of 50 have a wealth of experience and are of great value to a company. It’s a shame if this group drops out too early after a lifetime of hard work,” Fey said.

Two-thirds of those surveyed believe that people should be able to retire after having worked for 45 years. Fey: “The social partners also suggested this before. The minister does not like that. It would be impracticable and unaffordable. But with these figures, a solution to this problem is inevitable.”

The Vice-President mentions that in Belgium the Minister of Pensions is proposing to retire after 42 years of work, at the age of 60. “What is impracticable and unaffordable in the Netherlands, apparently is possible in Belgium. It would be nice if the Netherlands followed Belgium’s example and allowed workers a decent old age.”

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