Italy’s right-wing government is considering raising the retirement age for public sector workers to 70 as part of the upcoming budget maneuver. The proposal is one of a series of measures being discussed by the government to reduce spending and address the country’s growing pension deficit.
The move to raise the retirement age for public sector workers is seen as a way to bring Italy’s public pension system in line with other European countries, where the retirement age is already higher. The government is also considering increasing the contributions required for public employees to access their pensions, in an effort to reduce the burden on the country’s already strained pension system.
The proposal has been met with criticism from trade unions and opposition parties, who argue that raising the retirement age for public sector workers would disproportionately affect those who work in physically demanding jobs and those with lower incomes. They have called on the government to prioritize investing in job creation and economic growth, rather than cutting pension benefits for workers.
Supporters of the measure argue that raising the retirement age is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of Italy’s pension system, which is facing a growing deficit due to an aging population and low birth rates. They argue that without reforms, the pension system will become unsustainable and place an unsustainable burden on future generations.
The government is expected to announce further details of the budget maneuver in the coming weeks, including any specific changes to the pension system. The proposed changes are likely to be a key point of contention in the debate over the budget, with trade unions and opposition parties expected to push back against any measures that would reduce pension benefits for public sector workers.
Overall, the proposal to raise the retirement age for public sector workers to 70 is part of a broader effort by the Italian government to address the country’s growing pension deficit and ensure the long-term sustainability of the pension system. The government will need to carefully balance the need for fiscal responsibility with the concerns of workers and opposition parties to avoid sparking further social unrest.