(de-news.net) – The Union parties’ parliamentary leader Thorsten Frei and North Rhine-Westphalia Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann defended Germany’s proposed pension reform as an indivisible package, while political resistance from several state premiers and unresolved legislative questions continue to complicate the government’s effort to secure parliamentary approval by the end of 2026.
CDU/CSU faction leader in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, increased pressure on Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) to advance Germany’s pension reform, arguing that if legislation were to clear the Bundestag before the end of 2026, the ministry would need to present a draft bill in the fall. He maintained that the legislation should fully reflect the recommendations of the Pension Commission, including abolishing retirement without deductions after 45 years of contributions, and contended that Bas had committed to implementing the commission’s proposals when its report was presented. Frei also stressed that the reform timetable had become increasingly urgent.
Responding to criticism from several state premiers, Frei defended the commission’s recommendations as an integrated package, warning that altering individual components would invite additional demands and could ultimately undermine the entire reform. He argued that eliminating the deduction-free early retirement provision would prevent billions of euros in future expenditures and said no credible alternative had yet been proposed to offset those costs. While indicating that he would consider any politically viable proposal providing equivalent fiscal savings, Frei emphasized that the commission’s conclusions reflected extensive work by experts and lawmakers.
Laumann backs mandatory funded pension, calls for clear hardship rules
North Rhine-Westphalia Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), likewise described the recommendations as a coherent package whose interdependent elements should be implemented in full. He argued that Germany required comprehensive pension reforms to preserve public confidence and maintain a balanced contribution burden.
Laumann further argued that preserving the integrity of the package was essential because it also included the introduction of a mandatory, jointly financed funded pension pillar, which he strongly endorsed. He maintained that institutionalizing this additional form of retirement savings would benefit all employees, particularly those without access to occupational pension schemes.
At the same time, Laumann emphasized that workers who had spent decades in physically demanding occupations, such as long-term rotating shift work, should continue to receive special consideration. He called for the commission’s proposed hardship provision to be designed in consultation with labor-market experts so that employees in especially strenuous professions would retain fair access to retirement while providing greater legal certainty for affected workers.
The reform faces resistance from several state premiers, including three CDU-led eastern states, while Bas has recently expressed openness to reconsidering demands to retain the deduction-free retirement option. It also remains uncertain whether the legislation will require Bundesrat approval, as the Labor Ministry has stated that details of the legislative process have not yet been finalized. In any case, it continues to target Bundestag passage by the end of 2026.
