Pension or pension? The controversial question about justice in Germany!

Pension or pension? The controversial question about justice in Germany!

There is currently intensive discussion in Germany about old-age security systems. The focus is on the differences between pensions and pensions. While the average pension of a German pensioner is around 1,500 euros per month, federal civil servants receive an average of 3,400 euros and state civil servants even receive up to 3,600 euros as a pension. This raises questions about the fairness of the German pension system. Loud Mercury The differences are due to the different systems, which are often perceived as unfair.

Bärbel Bas, the new Labor and Social Minister and SPD politician, has set herself the goal of creating a uniform and solidarity-based system. This should relieve the financial burden on the German pension insurance and create more justice. At the same time, the current pension provision in Germany, which is based on three pillars - statutory pension, company pension and private pension - shows significant gaps. The statutory pension is funded by the state and only ensures the subsistence level, while the company and private pensions are often inadequate because many people have not made appropriate retirement provisions.

Different regulations for civil servants

Civil servants benefit from a combination of statutory and company pensions in the form of a pension. These pension regulations are a central point in the discussion about social justice, as civil servants, for example, have to pay full tax on their pension, while pensioners are only partially taxed. In addition, civil servants finance their health insurance privately, in contrast to most legally insured pensioners.

In the current debate, various political parties have put forward reform proposals for civil servants' pensions. The Council of Experts for the Assessment of Overall Economic Development has suggested that newly hired civil servants be included in the statutory pension insurance (GRV) and that they should also be granted a company pension. The aim of these proposals is to achieve long-term financial relief and curb utility spending. Both the Greens and the SPD support these approaches with regard to social justice and are calling for comprehensive reforms.

Political reactions and future outlook

However, the political landscape is divided. The Left is in favor of a uniform pension system for everyone, while the FDP is skeptical about the general inclusion of civil servants in the GRV and prefers a funded model. The AfD, on the other hand, demands that politicians pay into the GRV and proposes limiting civil servant status to sovereign tasks. Given rising pension spending, which is expected to reach 1.9% of gross domestic product by 2040, the discussion about reforms will play a central role in the election campaign and in the further design of the pension system.

A recent survey shows that 81.4% of the population supports the inclusion of newly hired state employees in the GRV. This highlights the desire of many citizens for a more equitable pension system that benefits all professional groups and could increase pressure on policymakers to take appropriate action.