“The Planning Bureau has calculated that the July reform package has a limited impact on the costs of ageing, between 0.1% and 0.3% of GDP. The proposals which are currently the subject of consultation compensate for this, and even go beyond budgetary neutrality,” assured the minister, referring to a gain of up to 0.4% of GDP.
Karine Lalieux presented Tuesday in the press, to the chagrin of opposition MPs, her proposal for pension reform adapted to the demands for sustainability made by the European Commission. One of the measures envisaged is to hold accountable/sanction employers who do not employ enough workers over the age of 60.
In the majority, Maggie De Block (Open Vld) and Servais Verherstraeten (CD&V) repeated all the bad things they think about this idea. This point of view was also shared from the opposition by Wim Van der Donckt (N-VA) and Catherine Fonck (Les Engagés).
Karine Lalieux clarified her intention: “I have also launched a proposal for joint responsibility of employers on end-of-career issues. This is a proposal tabled with my colleague Pierre-Yves Dermagne (also PS). Why this measure? The previous government raised the pension age and drastically reduced the possibilities for early retirement. Even people who have been placed on RCC (unemployment scheme with company supplement) by the employer must remain available for the labor market in an appropriate manner. This puts considerable pressure on job seekers and older workers. »
The ecologist partner validated this approach. “At some point, if people are no longer able to go to work, you can force them to go further than their capacity, to talk about budgets for decades, that won’t change anything,” noted Marie-Colline Leroy. (Eco).
The report requested from the social partners is expected during the month of February, also specified Karine Lalieux.