Jörg Dittrich, president of the Central Association of German Crafts and a master roofer, has called for higher deductions for people who retire early, saying demographic pressures cannot be waived for the skilled trades. In comments to the Rheinische Post, Dittrich said he knew his position would anger some of his own members, but argued it would be dishonest to claim that demographic constraints apply to everyone except the crafts sector.
Dittrich pointed to his own occupation, noting that most roofers do not manage to work until the standard retirement age. Still, he said not all older people in Germany are roofers, and society as a whole must raise the effective retirement age. He added that there is no other way.
He also urged acceptance that the pension system in its current form is no longer financially sustainable for demographic reasons. Holding on to all existing entitlements without clarifying how they will be funded would not work, he said, adding that blanket rejection of necessary changes makes things too easy for many.
The German federal government plans to reform the statutory pension system. In the debate, a proposal by the pension commission to scrap the deduction-free pension for people with particularly long insurance records—the former “Rente mit 63”—has met resistance, and the coalition continues to discuss it.
Sources: Der Spiegel.