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After the fight for the AHV reform, the fight for the second pillar is now following. The main point of contention in the discussion was the pension surcharges, but also the fact that the full cost-of-living adjustment for AHV pensions was prevented.
It is a real tough nut to crack: the reform of occupational pensions, or BVG for short. The last attempt failed in 2017 at the ballot box. The Federal Council then commissioned the social partners, i.e. employers and trade unions, to draw up a reform proposal.
Among other things, this provides for a reduction in the conversion rate, which would mean that the pensions in the mandatory occupational pension scheme would be smaller. To compensate for this, lifelong pension supplements are planned for all insured persons. However, the National Council and the Council of States do not want to know anything about the latter, as this week definitely made clear.
“Parliament has put on a theatre,” criticized SP National Councilor Flavia Wasserfallen in the “Arena”. The situation of women in the second pillar could have been improved with the compromise between the social partners and the pension supplements provided for everyone.
There is disagreement about pension supplements
“Now everything has been thrown overboard for an unacceptable result. Pay more to get a lower pension – that’s a bad deal,” Wasserfallen continues. That is why the referendum will be held.
Parliament is the legislator, not the trade union or the employers’ association
“The legislature is parliament – not the union or the employers’ association,” replied SVP Councilor Alex Kuprecht. “With the social partner compromise, everyone would have received a pension supplement, even if they didn’t need it.” Regine Sauter agreed that only very few insured persons were actually affected by the reduction in the conversion rate.
The FDP National Councilor continued: “You have to compensate for this group and we’ll do that.” Parliament only wants to grant pension supplements to a transitional generation of 15 years – and only to those insured with a relatively low pension.
Pensioners criticized politicians
Pensioner Marcel Bislin from Chur worries that politicians don’t pay enough attention to people with low pensions. “There is only talk, but not enough action,” he said to the politicians present. “Don’t forget the little people!”
The joint pension from his wife and him is enough to live on. But: “What happens if one of us has an accident? Then everything saved goes bachab. » Many people are also worse off financially than they are. If the pension amount is discussed, however, the calculation cannot be made without the AHV.
Middle Councilor Pirmin Bischof criticized the fact that Parliament had spoken out against the full cost-of-living adjustment of 2.8 percent for AHV pensions this week: “Anyone who is dependent on AHV needs every franc. Adjusting AHV pensions to inflation is a simple matter of course.”
No full cost-of-living compensation for AHV pensions
Individual members of the center of parliament had also rejected the full cost-of-living adjustment. Bishop: “The majority of our parliamentary group voted in favor of it, but the councils of states usually don’t accept any party instructions.”
Low-income people feel the inflation in their wallets
SP National Councilor Wasserfallen supports Bishop in his concerns: “People with low incomes feel the increase in prices in their wallets. In addition, the constitution requires us to compensate for inflation on AHV pensions.”
On the other hand, the FDP and SVP rejected it. FDP National Councilor Sauter: “We made the legally required cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5 percent. There’s no reason to load any more on it.”
Old-age provision will continue to occupy politics in the future
The discussion about old-age provision will continue in the future. If the trade unions and SP get serious about their referendum announcement, the electorate will soon decide on the BVG reform.
In addition, the trade union federation SGB and the young liberals have each submitted their own initiative for the reform of old-age provision.