New pension proposal: Your pension should be fair and realistic

Pharmadanmark, together with the 26 other trade unions in Akademikerne, has today launched a new pension proposal.

The pension debate has been heated over the past year – ever since Lars Løkke stated that “a piece that has been touched must be moved,” underlining that Danes need certainty about their future pensions.

We are therefore pleased to enter this debate with a good, solid, and realistic pension proposal.

There is nothing wrong with adjusting the retirement age – but it must follow actual aging. It is one thing to want people to stay longer in the labor market; it is another to ensure they have the ability to do so. That requires creating the right conditions – so both the will and the ability to keep working remain.

Stress is a key challenge. As the proposal highlights, one in five working Danes has symptoms of stress. And half of all disability pensions are linked to stress, anxiety, or depression. We must therefore create healthier working lives – not only for the economy’s sake, but above all for people’s well-being.

The will and motivation are there

Many members nearing retirement tell us they want to keep some connection to working life. The Senior Think Tank’s latest report shows that Denmark can learn from its neighbors, who are better at creating conditions that encourage seniors to keep working.

In Sweden, 77.9 % of those aged 55-64 remain in the labor market. In Norway, it is 72 %. In Denmark, just 70.7 %. Translated into employment numbers, Denmark could increase the workforce by around 50,000 people if we reached Sweden’s level.

That is why we welcome the proposal’s emphasis on the idea – in the words of Akademikerne’s chair, Thomas Kepler – that you don’t necessarily need to go from 100 km/h at work to 0 km/h at home when you retire.

That is why we welcome the proposal’s focus on flexibility – as Akademikerne’s chair Thomas Kepler puts it: you don’t have to go from 100 km/h at work to 0 km/h at home overnight.

The option to gradually reduce working hours when reaching orapproaching retirement age is a strong tool to help maintain both motivation and attachment to the labor market.

One thing is clear: To answer the questions “How long should working life be in Denmark?” and “When can we retire?” we need to ensure good and sustainable conditions for work

A healthy and fulfilling working life is the foundation for a long and happy life. It is not only an essential part of the Danish social contract – it is the cornerstone of a sustainable pension system.

Akademikerne proposes:

• A more realistic and fair rise in the retirement age.
• More flexible conditions for seniors who want to keep working.
• Stronger prevention of work-related stress.
• A sustainable economy.