(de-news.net) – Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) has expressed her approval to a proposal that would link the commencement of retirement not to a fixed age threshold but instead to the total number of contribution years accumulated. Speaking on public television, she indicated that the model advanced by economist Jens Südekum appeared broadly convincing and merited serious consideration. Bas further announced that the forthcoming pension commission would examine this contribution-based approach in parallel with the existing age-related framework, thereby ensuring that both models are assessed within the broader reform debate.
Jens Südekum, Personal Envoy for Economic Development to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), had argued that individuals entering the pension system at an early stage of their working lives should be entitled to retire sooner, while university graduates who begin contributions only after extended periods of study would necessarily face later retirement. He maintained that the decisive factor should be the actual duration of working life rather than adherence to a rigid chronological age limit, stressing that such a shift would more accurately reflect diverse employment trajectories.
The Düsseldorf-based lecturer underscored the importance of recognizing real employment histories, noting that apprentices typically begin paying into the pension fund significantly earlier than academics. In his view, a system oriented around contribution years would embody greater fairness and equality. Südekum also highlighted the urgency of comprehensive reform, warning that the statutory pension scheme would soon encounter considerable financial strain as the baby-boomer generation gradually enters retirement, thereby intensifying fiscal pressures on the system.
After month-long deliberations, the Bundestag approved a pension package on Friday, though the measure still requires the consent of the Bundesrat. Disputes persisted regarding the mechanisms for stabilizing pension levels and the scope of expanded maternal benefits. A pension commission is expected to be established before Christmas, with reform proposals scheduled for completion by mid-2026. These recommendations are anticipated to be swiftly translated into legislative action, underscoring the government’s intention to address structural challenges in the pension system promptly.
