Habeck in the ntv early start
“Work in old age should be worthwhile”
March 7, 2024, 10:11 a.m
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Robert Habeck traveled to the USA for economic discussions and is still making a contribution to the domestic pension debate. Those who work at retirement age should earn even better. In return, the state could waive social security contributions, said Habeck.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck does not want to lead a debate about a changed retirement age. But: Anyone who wants to voluntarily work longer as a pension recipient should do so. In order to make this more financially attractive, the Green politician advocates the proportional elimination of pension contributions and unemployment insurance.
“In this way, the employer’s unemployment and pension shares could be paid out as an additional fee. Then it would become even more financially worthwhile to work longer and everyone would get more out of it,” said Habeck on the RTL/ntv program Frühstart. Anyone who wants to work longer would be able to “earn a lot”. The experience of these people would be retained in the labor market. “We can really use that at the moment and nobody loses anything,” said Habeck.
The retirement age is politically clearly regulated and will not be changed. “There are also jobs where you really are broken after many years and you shouldn’t put pressure on yourself to have to work longer,” said the Economics Minister. Where there is willingness, it should not be punished but encouraged. “And I think that’s fair enough.”
The Federal Minister of Economics also commented on the strike by the train drivers’ union GDL. “It has to be possible to find a solution and not to express your interests so radically at the expense of other people, I no longer think that’s right,” said Habeck. When asked directly about GDL boss Weselsky, he added that the moment had come when a solution had to be found. “My understanding is actually no longer strong,” said Habeck.
The Economics Minister is currently in the USA, where he is promoting closer economic cooperation with German companies. The country has become extremely attractive for German companies thanks to a gigantic subsidy program, the Inflation Reduction Act. Many local companies prefer to invest there rather than in Germany.